HEROD: 


A  Historical  Tragedy, 


IVE     ACTS. 


BY 


!alifornia 

?ional 

ility 


HENRY    I  L  I  O  W  I  /  I 


:ROD 


A   TRAGEDY. 


BY    HENRY    ILIOWIZI, 


AUTHOR  OF  SOL. 


MINNEAPOLIS,  MINN. 
1884. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1884,  by 

HENEY  ILIOWIZI, 
In  Ihe  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


Printed  at  the  Tribune  Book 
Rooms,  Minneapolis,   Minn. 


SOL: 

AN  EPIC  POEM 

BY 

REV.  HENRY  ILI.OWIZI. 


St.  Paul  Pioneer  Press  .'—The  author  treats  the  subject  with  much 
poetical  vigor.  Beautiful  similes  abound.  Scenes  are  vividly  cet  forth. 
Of  course  in  a  work  of  this  kind  there  must  be  a  suggestion  of  the 
Divine  Comedy,  but  nevertheless  this  poem  is  filled  with  fresh  concep- 
tions eloquently  expressed. 

Chicago  Journal : — Mr.  Iliowizi's  poem,  which  is  the  work  of  years, 
will  be  read  with  interest  and  pleasure,  not  only  by  the  people  of  his 
own  race,  but  by  the  Christian  also. 

The  Occident,  of  Chicago: — The  author  exhibits  a  dexterous  pen  in  giv- 
ing the  tragical  end  of  Sol.  The  lines  run  smoothly,  and  much  poetic 
fervor  is  lent  to  each  canto.  Altogether,  it  presents  a  very  interesting 
volume,  which  is  neatly  printed,  and,  though  not  wholly- free  from  typo- 
graphical mistakes,  will  prove  a  welcome  adjunct  to  modern  literature. 

The  Messenger,  of  New  York  : — These  thrilling  incidents  have  been 
skillfully  seized  upon  by  the  author  for  his  epic.  *  *  *  Throughout  the 
book  the  author  displays  a  force  and  eloquence  which  are  promising  for 
his  future.  His  style  is  often  pithy  and  epigramatic,  *  *  *  and  we  feel 
confident  that  with  study  and  practice  his  promising  literary  gifts  will 
give  him  a  worthy  place  among  writers  of  the  day. 

'  The  Interior,  of  Chicago  : — It  is  certain  that  Rabbi  Iliowizi  has  given 
us  an  epic  marked  by  rare  poetical  ability, — a  grand  poem  which,  while 
felicitously  and  powerfully  portraying  the  aspirations,  the  hopes,  the 
sufferings,  and  the  traditions  of  his  own  people  in  connection  with  the 
sad  end  of  Sol,  the  heroic  maiden,  forcibly  appeals  to  the  warm  sympa- 
thies and  kindly  feelings  of  all  Christian  people.  Gentiles  and  Jews 
will  read  this  remarkable  epic  with  almost  equal  pleasure.  All  admirers 
of  epic  poetry  will  appreciate  and  enjoy  its  majestic  movement,  its  vivid 
descriptions  and  its  glowing  imagery. 


2094996 


To  the  magnanimous  guide  and  benefactor  of  my  youth, 
DR.  B^RWALD, 

Director  of  the  Philanthropic  Institution  in  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  this  production  is  gratefully  inscribed: 


My  dearest  and  most  revered  friend: 

The  first  and  most  precious  benefit  I  derive  Jrom  this  insignificant  composition  it 
the  dear  opportunity  it  affords  me  to  inform  the  world  that,  but  for  your  generosity  and 
almost  fatherly  care,  I  should  most  probably  be  one  oj  those  unfortunate  and  unfriended 
beings  whoselife  is  a  burden  to  themselves  and  mankind.  Severed  from  the  semi-barbar- 
ous land  of  my  birth  and  thrown  into  this  world  without  the  least  preparation  for  itt 
unavoidable  struggle,  you  have  lifted  me  from  the  depth  of  misery,  endured  and  patiently 
corrected  the  aberrations  of  my  youth,  brought  me  near  the  best  sources  of  learning,  and 
put  me  beyond  the  reach  of  want  until  a  training  of  ten  years  spent  under  your 
auspices  enabled  me  to  face  independently  the  problem  of  this  existence.  The  longer  I 
am  away  from  you,  friend  of  my  soul,  ar>dthe  more  the  selfish  qualities  of  man's  nature 
become  a  matter  of  fact  to  me,  the  deeper  grows  my  gratitude  to  you,  and  the  greater  my 
admiration  of  that  sweet  benignity  which  is  the  essential  feature  of  your  truly  humane 
and  great  character.  Your  life  is  a  pure  mirror  reflecting  everything  that  is  divine  in 
man;  an  ideal  to  which  one  may  aspire,  but  which  is  too  lofty  for  the  average  mortal. 
May  the  Lord  bless  and  preserve  you  for  the  good  of  that  vast  circle  of  grateful  friends 
and  enthusiastic  followers,  one  of  whom  I  shall  in  deep  devotion,  respect  and  gratitude 

ever  be  proud  to  be. 

HENRY  ILIOWIZ1. 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  April  1, 1884. 


ARGUMENT. 


Herod,  having  received  the  crown  of  Judea  from  the  hand  of  Rome,  takes 
Jerusalem  by  assault,  assisted  by  Sosuis.  the  Roman  general.  Although  married  to 
a  princess  of  the  great  Asmonean  line.  Herod,  fearirg  the  popularity  of  this  r^yal 
house,  resolves  to  remove  all  those  who  have  a  claim  to  the  throne  he  usurped; 
prominent  among  whom  is  Hyrcanus,  the  Queen  Mariamne's  grandiire,  and  Aristobu- 
liia,  her  young  brother.  Having  disposed  of  Antigonus.  the  conquered  and  captive 
King  of  Israel  whom  Sosuis  leads  away  in  chains.  Herod,  encouraged  by  the  auspic- 
ious prophecy  of  Manahem,  after  promoting  Aristobulus  to  the  rank  of  High  Priest, 
causes  him  to  be  drowned,  and  succeeds,  under  a  plausible  pretext,  to  execute 
Hyrcanus,  whom,  by  captivating  promises  he  lares  from  Parthin,  where  the  priest 
lived  exiled.  Theae  proceedings  exasperate  Mariamne  against  Herod,  and  her 
hatred  becomes  uncontrollable  on  learning  that  the  King,  being  summoned 
before  Antony  to  account  for  Aristobulus'  death,  secretly  ordered  Jrseph,  his  sis- 
ter'shusband,  to  slay  the  Queen  in  case  Antony  would  slay  him.  Finding  on  his  return 
the  Queen  in  a  state  of  exasperation,  and  hearing  that  Jcseph  has  betrayed  the  secret, 
Herod,  who  first  doubted  8  dome's  insinuations  against  her  husband's  and  Mariamne's 
fidelity,  is  now  convinced  that  a  criminal  intimacy  existed  between  his  wife,  the 
Queen,  and  Joseph,  whose  decapitation  he  orders  at  once.  Joseph's  persistence,  how- 
ever, in  denying  his  guilt  to  the  last,  unsettles  the  conviction  of  the  Kirg,  who, 
dreading  the  possibility  of  the  Queen  becoming  an  innocent  victim  of  his  jealousy, 
hastens  to  revoke  the  order  of  Mariamne's  execution;  but  the  m ef  sen ger  comes  too 
late  to  arrest  the  axe  of  the  headsman,  and  Herod's  grief  for  his  adored  wife  assumes 
the  nature  of  wild  despair.  He  slays  Sabion,  who  is,  by  accident,  the  bearer  of 
the  dark  tidings;  would  not  hear  .that  the  Queen  was  dead,  and  st;.bs  Eurycles, 
whose  words  confirm  her  fall,  and  who  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about 
her  sad  end.  The  dying  wretch  reveals  the  treacherous  scheme  laid  by  Salome  for 
the  ruin  of  the  Queen  she  hated  and  her  husband,  and  Herod's  despair  vents  itself 
in  his  trying'to  end  his  life,  in  which  he  is  preventad  by  his  brother,  Pheroras. 


DRAMATIS   PERSONS. 


HEBOD,  King  of  Judea. 

MARIAMNE,  his  wife  and  Queen. 

ALEXANDRA,  her  mother. 

AKISTOBULUS,  her  brother,  son  of  Alexandra,  High  Priest  for  a  while. 

HYRC  VNIJS,  ex-High  Priest,  father  of  Alexandra. 

PHEROBAS,  Herod's  brother. 

SALOME,  his  sister. 

JOSEPH,  Salome's  husband,  treasurer  of  Herod. 

CYPROS,  Herod's  mother. 

ANTIOONUS,  ex-King  of  Judea. 

DIOPHANTUS,  Herod's  stcretary. 

SARAMELLAS,  his  ambassador. 

CORINTHUS,  his  captain  of  the  guards. 

PHABATUS,  his  steward. 

EURYCLES,  a  creature. 

PHRAATES,  King  of  Parthia. 

Sosius,  a  Boman  general. 

SABION,  confidant  of  Alexandra. 

jEsop,  her  servant. 

MATTHIAS,  the  High  Priest. 
JDDAS  SERIPHEUS,    a  teacher  of  the  law. 

MANAHEM,  a  leader  of  the  Essenes. 
A  physician,  captains,  headsmen,  messengers,  citizens,  scholars,  a  deputation  of 

elders,  guards,  children,  and  other  persons. 

The  scene  is  mainly  in  Jerusalem,  with  the  exception  of  three  scenes,  one  laid 
in  Jericho,  the  other  in  Parthia,  the  thiid  in  Athens. 


HEROD. 


ACT  I. 

SCENE    I . 

Jerusalem.    A  room  in  the  palace. 

Enter  HEROD,  PHEROKA.S,  DIOPHANTUS,  CORINTHUS,  and  a  train  of 
armed  officers,  us  coming  fn-m  the  fight. 

Herod.  Ungirt  my  sword,  Corinth  us;  bid  the  guards 
Deny  access  to  the  oppressed  crowds; 
But  friends  well  tried  admittance  have  to  us, 
Though  not  with  our  consent  the  Romans  slay. 

[Corinthus  ungirts  Herod  and  leaves  with  the  officers. 

Pher.  This  hour  to  rest  be  given,  king;  (he  task 
Most  arduous  in  its  kind  is  done,  and  now 
Our  allies  teach  thy  foes  obey;  the  tongues 
That  loud  against  thy  rule  declaimed  are  mute. 

Her.  This  bloody  harvest  lames  our  kingdom's  weal, 
Pheroras.     Have  we  the  power  not  ourselves 
Of  minor  foes  our  throne  to  rid,  now  that 
The  head  of  them  is  in  the  Roman's  grip  ? 
Proceed  at  once  the  legions'  harshness  check! 
Haste,  prince,  haste  alJ,  and  curb  the  slayers'  rage, 
Even  before  I  Sosius  meet. — Outline 
A  list  of  them  to  be  removed,  and  let 
The  treacherous  heads  me  count  before  they  fall — 

(Aside  to  Pheroras.) 

Go,  send  me  Sosius  here,  who  deals  as  if 
He  lightly  rated  our  supreme  command. 
We  shall  bespeak  him  plain  whom  Antony 
To  conquer  not  to  slay  this  people  sent. 

[Exeunt  Pheroras  and  Diophantus. 
Thus  are  my  visions  verified  at  last, 
And  I  am  lifted  on  great  Solomon's  throne, 
With  Rome  as  pillar  to  uphold  my  state ! 
When  gods  combine  the  mortal  to  extol, 
To  raise  the  lowly  to  some  lofty  height, 
They  first  with  soaring  instincts  him  endow, 
The  heart  to  wish,  the  boldness  to  aspire, 
The  nerve  to  strive,  the  triumph  to  achieve, 
And  rule  he  will  whom  heavenly  powers  back ! 


10  HEROD. 

Thus  crowned  with  victory  the  diadem 

I  hold,  and  no  proud  Asmonean  shall  wrest 

It  from  iny  grasp !     The  high  priest  not,  the  sword 

Now  sways  the  world,  Hyrcanus,  and  thy  days 

Of  sanctimonious  fame  are  past.    A  man 

Of  humble  parentage  thy  priestly  robe 

Shall  wear  with  all  the  mystic  signs  which  thrill 

The  slavish  crowds.     Thy  trimmed  ears,  old  man, 

Jehovah  will  by  miracles  not  round, 

And  he  thy  place  shall  fill  whom  Herod's  whim 

With  sanctity  invests. — Yet  nearer  me 

That  ex-priest  I  prefer,  where  less  his  right 

To  his  inheritance  I  apprehend 

Than  while  he  dwelleth  at  the  Parthian  court. 

A  call  of  love  will  hither  lure  him  soon 

Where  at  my  ease  I  may  dispose  of  him. — 

The  royal  offsprings  yet  by  scores  must  go 

Ere  I  judea  can  my  kingdom  call, 

And  joyous  hearts  will  break  with  grief  and  woe 

By  anguish  rent  for  those  who  still  must  fall. 

What  comes — Gorinthus^  [Enter  Corinthus. 

Cor.  Manahem  begs  to  see 

The  King,  and  so  he  urges  that  with  him 
I  beg. 

Her.  Let  him  appear  who  upright  is  in  heart 

And  in  the  stars  the  future's  course  can  read. —  [Enter  Manahem. 
The  possible  be  thine.  Manahem,  speak! 

Mana.  King,  fear  the  Ruler  of  thy  destiny ; 
With  dead  the  town  is  cloyed,  the  lanes  with  gore, 
The  heathens  slay  the  mother  and  the  babe, 
Defile  the  Sanctuary's  sacred  seats. 
The  virgin  outrage,  plunder  every  house, 
And  thou  art  sileut,  hast  no  word  for  them 
Whose  guiltless  blood  may  imprecations  call 
Upon  those  hordes  who  thus  thy  cause  befoul! 

Her.  Shame  on  those  warriors  who  such  havoc  make! 
Accuse  me  not,  oh  righteous  man,  my  heart 
Not  less  doth  for  Judea  bleed  than  thine. 
It  is  Jerusalem  my  capital 
They  devastate,  and  those  they  slay  are  all 
My  subjects  dear.    Twelve  messengers  are  out 
To  seek  the  chief  and  Sosius,  ere  a  while, 
I  here  expect.     Yet  curse  not  such  as  deal 
With  you  as  foes;  that  prince  condemn  who  by 
His  treason  brought  on  you  this  woe.    Not  me, 
Manahem,  not  Herod,  but  Antigonus 
Arraign,  who  is  now  punished  for  his  base 
Designs. 

Mana.  Not  all  the  wrong  is  his,  my  lord, 
Though  many  are  the  errors  of  that  prince. 
'     He  for  the  kingdom  of  his  fathers  strove 
And  no  allegiance  to  the  Roman  owed; 
But  Heaven  decreed  it  so,  and  so  it  be. 

Her.  His  brother's  birthright  boldly  he  usurped. 
And  Israel's  high  priest  he  outraging  maimed. 
Five  hundred  maidens  he  to  Parthia  gave 
Had  I  not  thwarted  his  atrocious  plans. 


HEROD.  11 

The  martyr's  death  through  him  my  Phasael  died, 
Whot-e  blood  to  Heaven  loud  for  vengeance  cries! 

Mana.  His  fate  is  sealed  ;  I  know  Antigonus 
By  pagan  hand  must  fall,  and  thus  the  last 
Of  great  Asmoneus'  brilliant  house  will  end, 
A  captive  with  no  child,  no  friend,  no  priest 
To  weep  a  tear  or  for  his  body  care. — 
Be  moved,  O  king,  by  that  mysterious  Might 
Who  plays  with  thrones  as  boys  with  insects  play; 
Be  moved,  and  grant  the  satisfaction  me 
Of  being  near  nim  when  abroad  he  dies; 
For  nothing  done  is  in  this  nether  world 
Of  which  a  record  is  not  kept  above. 

Her.  And  wouldst  thou  follow  him  to  Rome  and  see 
Him  there  Anton i us'  triumph  grace?    Bethink 
Thyself,  it  is  a  distant  way. 

Mana.  Thy  care 

Will  not  permit  him  Italy  to  view; 
And  were  it  otherwise  I  should  to  Rome 
Accompany  the  prince. 

Her.  Manahem,  thou  art 

A  man  inspired  by  the  Lord;  in  me 
Thy  prophecies  are  verified;  I  am 
Judea's  king  as  thou  didst  once  foretell. 
Thou  shalt  not  vainly  wish,  if  I  can  help; 

Aatigonus  shall  die  by  thee  consoled. —  [Exit  Manahem. 

Thus  smile  the  stars  and  victory  and  Rome 
On  me,  and  thou,  Antigonus,  art  doomed 
To  be  the  worm's  repast,  to  disappear 
When  Herod  says  Depart !    Yea,  Rome,  thou  si  nil  t 
Not  see,  nor  have  a  chance  to  plead  thy  cause 
Much  stronger  than  the  mine  if  justice  ruled. — 
Or  should  I  mine  plebeian  birth  compared 
See  with  his  line,  his  right  to  reign  see  on 
The  scale  with  mine?    Antipater,  my  sire, 
Would  in  his  grave  blush  at  bis  dotieh  boy 
If  I  on  claims  would  dare  my  throne  to  found. 
The  world  with  fallen  royalty  may  sigh, 
But  hath  no  sympathy  with  upstart  knaves 
Who  rise  by  force  and  must  by  force  subsist. 
Thus  force  shall  bring  thee  to  the  dust,  my  prince! 
Antonius  must  in  this  Day  purpose  serve; 

The  others  here  I  sha'l  in  time  remove,  [Enter  Sosius. 

And  clear  this  nest  of  its  patrician  brood. — 
There  Sosiiis  conies,  who  shall  my  ends  promote  — 
What  means  that  slaughter  of  the  infants,  man  ? 
Art  thou  here  sent  with  girls  and  babrs  to  war, 
So  slay  my  people,  plunder  house  and  fane 
And  leave  me  monarch  of  a  desert  land  ? 
The  Roman  empire  can  that  blood  not  pay 
Thy  wild  centurians  shed  in  vain  this  day. 

Sos.  The  worst  is  done  the  warrior  to  appease, 
Who  of  his  triumphs  justly  claims  a  share. 
They  are  restrained  who  thus  the  king  displeased. 

Hc.r.  Not  one  of  them  shall  leave  my  kingdom  poor, 
But  none  should  say  that  Herod's  friends  are  such 
As  reverence  lack  for  innocence  and  gods- 


12  HEROD. 

To  Rome  my  crown,  to  her  I  friendship  owe 
And  would  not  thus  her  glory  tarnish'd  see 
By  acts  barbaiians  would  too  cruel  deem. 

Sos   Such  licence,  king,  the  Roman  oversees. 
The  soldier's  life  it>  fraught  with  risk  and  pain; 
Each  day.  each  hour  new  dangers  he  must  face, 
Must  ghastly  death  in  thousand  shapes  confront, 
Without  the  prospect  of  a  peaceful  grave, 
And  this  for  them  who  crowns  and  sceptres  crave; 
What  price  can  pay  such  self-denying  zeal  ? 

Hur.  No  price  buys  valor  which  a  world  subdues. 

Sos    Which  asks  not  who  but  where  the  foe  doth  lie, 
And  shrinks  not  back  when  orders  bid  to  die. 

Her.  The  Roman  warrior  will  the  wonder  be 
Of  generations  yet  to  come,  and  learn 
What  giant  races  ruled  in  olden  times. 
If  I  on  prowess  could  rely  as  this 
How  easy  would  my  head  and  slumbers  be. 

Sos.  Thy  friends  are  wakeful  while  thou  art  asleep; 
What  Rome  hath  given  she  but  can  retract; 
Her  friends  against  a  world  she  can  protect 

Her.  My  crown  she  can,  my  head  she  cannot  save, 
My  breast  once  pierced  she  could  not  knit  again, 
And  this — oh  let  me  plainly  speak — this  haunts 
Me  day  and  night  as  long  as  he 

-Sos.  As  he? 

Who  is  the  he  alarming  Herod's  rest  ? 
Her.  As  long  as  I  Antigonus  must  fear. — 

Sos.  Can  Herod  fear  a  craven,  captive  prince! 

Her.  Stood  he  within  my  dagger's  reach  I  feared 
Him  not 

S»s.      What  is  it  Herod  fears? 

Her.  There  lives 

No  being  in  this  world  I  trulv  fear 
Who  fear  no  death.    But  lifted  on  a  throne 
There  is  the  million-headed  beast  untamed, 
A  monster  knowing  no  surcease  in  rage, 
Eeseiging  me  with  poison  in  its  look. 
That  beast  whom  Brutus  dreaded  makes  me  think, 
Good  Sosius;  mark— the  rabble  is  for  him. 

Sos.  The  rabble!    Cannot  Judea's  dregs  be  quelled, 
He  being  far? 

Her.  Will  never  rest  until  they  know 

Him  in  the  dark  beyond.    They  will  not  rest 
But  plague  me  with  unending  schemes  and  plots 
And  this  would  make  a  Caesar  shrug  with  doubt. 

Sns.  Antonius  is  thy  friend,  and  what  in  this 
I  in  thy  favor  may  secure  depend 
On  me. 

Her.  Nay,  all  thy  favors  would  be  crowned 
By  this,  without  which  all,  I  grieve  to  say, 
Are  half.    His  death  alone  our  triumph  makes 
Complete. 

Sos.        Count  on  a  soldier's  word. 

Her.      [grasping  Sosius'  hand.}    Here  with 
This  hand  accept  my  grateful  heart!    Twelve  loads 
Of  gold  I  to  thy  care  entrust,  let  four 


HEROD.  13 

Be  thine,  the  rest  thy  master's  due;  aud  ere 
Thy  valiant  legions  Jerusalem  forsake 
A  fifty  talents  shall  their  zeal  reward. 

Sos.  I  thank  thee,  monarch,  for  the  royal  gifts, 
And  shall  remember  what  I  Herod  owe.  [Will  go. 

Her.  One  word. — A  pious  man,  a  favorite 
Of  mine,  Manahem,  who  my  rule  foretold 
Some  twenty  years  ago,  predicting  came 
To  me,  imploring  that  he  may  be  there 
Where  fate  decreed  Antigonus  should  fall. 
Allow  that  man  the  captive  to  approach, 
His  ardor  being  to  console  the  prince. 

Sns.  The  guird  shall  be  instructed  on  this  point.  {Exit. 

Her.  Now  thee  I  seek,  sweet  goddess  of  my  soul, 
Manamne,  princess  of  my  self  and  all. 
In  my  new  crown  thou  art  the  precious  gem; 
Thy  love  is  more  than  this  world's  diadem! 

SCENE    II. 

A  room. 
Enter  DIOPHANTUS  with  papers,  and  SAKAMELLAS. 

Diophantus.  Thou  hast  no  time  to  waste,  Saramellas; 
The  king  dislikes  iu  this  affair  delay; 
The  message  should  be  there  and  answer  here 
Before  the  moon  is  full.    Art  thou  prepared 
To  start  for  Parthia's  court? 

Saramellas.  Prepared!    Who  could 

In  minutes  for  an  embassy  prepare? 
I  am  surprised  that  I  am  chosen  for 
The  mission  named.    I  would  another  had 
The  trust  reluctant  to  my  peaceful  mood. 

Dio.  The  king  is  restless  till  he  Parthia  knows 
Appeased,  knows  old  Hyrcanus  out  of  Phraates 
Reach.    Get  here  the  priest,  the  monarch  wills 
No  more.    Thy  prudence  use  as  ladder  to 
Thy  fortune's  top. 

Sara.  I  go  unwilling  to 

The  Parthian  court;  I  loathe  Pacorus  more 
Than  he  doth  Rome:  yet  meet  I  shall  that  chief 
And  him  who  rules,  and  face  all  perils  which 
The  task  beset,  although  the  prize  is  but 
An  ear-trimm'd  priest. 

Dio.  Whom  thou  must  promise  half 

Of  Herod's  throne  who  sends  for  him  to  pay 
A  filial  due. 

Stira.        By  hugging  him  until 

He  dreams  in  bliss. 1  have  a  pity  for 

That  hoary  head  whose  friends  so  coarsely  do 
His  love  requite. 

Din.  Thou  canst  not  Herod  serve 

And  Heaven,  friend.     Like  Janus  double-faced 
Thou  at  this  court  alone  canst  thrive;  but  with 
A  conscience  whispering  in  thee  thou  ait 
Not  born  a  courtier's  role  to  play.    Go,  climb 
Thy  hill.    This  turn  of  times  leaves  room  for  lords 


14  HEROD. 

To  rise  or  those  who  wisely  serve  their  ends. 

Let  grandam  scruples  not  thy  mind  desturb 

Nor  virtuous  sickness  pale  thy  prospects  bright. 

Thy  rule  be  caution,  thy  reward  success. 

Farewell!    The  hour  is  pressing  and  the  task 

Undone.    Farewell,  and  here  these  letters  take.  [Exit. 

Sara.  Farewell,  shrewd  man,  Saramellas  no  guilt 
Will  on  his  conscienca  load.    A  courtier  may 
Yet  thrive  and  be  a  mm.     I  let  these  letters 
But  not  my  speech  suspectless  age  decoy. 
I  see  the  plot  against  the  luckless  prince 
Whom  I  should  lure  into  a  guileful  snare. 
I  nor  my  skill  shall  nor  my  suasion  strain 
If  thou,  Hyrcanus,  wilt  the  bait  disdain; 
But  age  is  dotish  when  the  passions  sway, 
And  thou,  I  fear,  wilt  Herod's  call  obey.  [Exit. 

SCENE   III. 

A  street  in  Jerusalem. 
Enter  Citizens  from  different  sides. 

1st  Citizen,    [to  one  passing  by]  Stop  neighbor,  halloo,  stop! 

what  the  deuce!  Has  he 

The  feathered  sickness  in  his  limbs  ? — Stop,  Ezra ! 
Why,  man,  one  would  suppose  a  Roman  close 
Behind  thee. — Well,  how  about  the  newest  news? 
They  are  away,  eh  ? 

2d  Cit.  The  Romans? 

1st  Cit.  Yes,  the  Romans. 

The  fever  shake  the  Romans!    Are  they  all 
Away,  the  wolfish  heathens,  nil  away  ? 

2d  Cit.  Ay,  Gamliel,  or  sujh  an  airing  would  prove  hot 
for  us.    They  are  all  gone,  the  dogs;  have  seen 
Myself  them  marching  out  of  town  on  foot. 
On  horse,  by  dreaded  SSosius  led  who  rode 
Triumphant,  while  the  drums  and  flutes  discoursed. 

1st  Cit.  The  pest  on  Sosius  whose  insatiate  greed 
Was  glutted  by  the  tyrant  at  our  cost. 
Four  camels  bore  Judea's  gold  for  him, 
And  eight  for  Antony  our  treasures  took, 
While  every  soldier  got  a  heavy  boon. 
They  chased  our  maidens  not  and  wives  in  vain, 
Nor  slew  our  babes  without  the  due  reward 
By  him  bestowed  who  on  our  marrow  lives! 
And  we  like  slaves  endure  outrageous  wrong 
And  wonder  at  the  hateful  yoke  we  bear. 

3d  Cit.  Exasperated  once  the  tribes  will  rise 
And  shake  the  bloody  tyrant  off  their  neck. 
We  are  no  slaves  and  shall  not  bear  it  loug. 

Other  Cits.  We  are  no  slaves  and  shall  not  bear  it  long. 

1st  Cit.  Did  ye  Antigouus  in  chains  not  see 
Degraded  by  a  bondslave's  coarse  attire? 

One  of  the  crowd.  I  did,  I  did! 

Others  We  did  not  see  him,  no! 

2d  Cit.  I  did,  I  did  as  here  I  see  my  hand. 
He  had  hia  palms  upon  his  royal  face 


HEROD.  15 

And  linked  to  a  wagon  he  paced  along, 
Behind  a  guard,  before  him  Sosius  on 
A  prancing  steed.     All  who  beheld  him  pass 
Bemourned  him  as  lost.     Manahem  was 
With  him. 

All.        Manahera ! 

1st  ('it-  Ah,  Manahem, best 

Of  souls !     In  thee  Jerusalem  bewails 
An  upright  heart! — Was  he  with  him?    Why,  such 
A  man  as  would  for  pity's  sake  "not  kill 
A  fly  disporting  on  his  nose,  and  nurse 
To  patients  was  whose  foul  pestiferous  couch 
Their  nearest  kindred  frightened  from  their  side! 
Why  him,  of  the  Essenes  the  righteous  head, 
Select  from  thousands  for  a  bondman's  lot, 
Let  others  answer  give. 

2d  Cit-  No  bondman  he, 

Digest  it  better,  man;  but  here  the  hinge. 
You  see  how  flesh  unlike  is  flesh.    Tell  me 
To  face  a  Roman  or  confront  a  wolf, 
I  face  the  beast;  but  then  a  pious  man 
Is  not  of  common  flesh,  and  so  Manahem. — 
The  prince  must  not  unwept  be  slain,  so  thought 
Manahem,  and  besought  the  king  to  speak 
A  kindly  word  for  him,  which,  being  done, 
He  got  the  privilege  to  go  and  weep. 

3d  Cit.  He  was  himself  predicting  Herod's  rule. 

2d  Cit.  When  clouds  are  frowning  swallows  prophesy 
And  when  it  showers  fools  can  say  :  It  rains. — 
Had  not  Hyrcanus  such  a  vampire  nursed 
There  would  be  none  to  suck  his  royal  blood. 
What  can  he  be,  his  nursling  being  king? 

1st  Cit.  Ask  better,  what,  the  priesthood  being  lost  ? 
His  maim  unfits  him  for  the  sacred  trust, 
And  gossip  says  his  substitute  is  named. 

3d  Cit   Pray  who  is  he  destined  to  rule  the  Shrine  ? 

2d  at.    I  know  the  man  not,  though  his  name  I  heard. 

3d  at.  Is  he  not  one  of  Asmoneus'  line 
Whose  progeny  by  right  the  altar  tread? 

2d  at.  May  be,  may  be,  some  lines  do  far  extend, 
Although  Ananelus  no  kinship  claims 
With  the  descendants  of  the  Maccabees.  [Sabion  enter.*. 

1st  Cit.  Ananelus  ?    Why,  Sabion  there  will  tell — 
Is  not  Ananelus  a  Greek  by  name? 

Sabion.  Ananelus  ?    I  never  heard  this  name. 

Other  at.  We  never  heard  the  name,  he  is  a  Greek. 

1st  Cit.  Well,  what  of  that?    The  king  is  Greek  in  ail 
And  wants  all  heathen  customs  planted  here. 
And  with  a  high  priest  of  the  Grecian  race 
The  way  for  Jupiter  and  Bacchus  paved 
Is  to  our  Sanctuary's  holiest  seat. 
Thus  far  we  by  degrees  arrive.    He  will 
Not  stop  where  he  is  now.    Why,  dotards  as 
We  are,  should  he  bethink  himself  when  him 
The  fashion  goads  ? 

Sab.  \to  the  1st  Cit.]  What  made  thee  guess  the  king 
Would  tear  the  priesthood  from  the  Asmoneans? 


16  HEKOD. 

1st  Cit.    I  am  no  guesser,  but  I  know  the  fact ; 
Ananelus  the  king  installed  as  piif  st. 
From  Babylon  he  came  by  Herod  called 
Who  did  -the  holy  office  liim  entrust 
And  all  the  titles  of  the  sacred  rank. 
It  was  a  secret  which  is  known  to-day 
And  old  Hyrcanus  may  his  looks  unhair. 

Sab    Brothers,  there  is  nor  gratitude  nor  lore 
Nor  friendship  in  this  world;  and  if  of  these 
There  be  a  mite  in  beastly  substance,  man 
Of  all  the  beasts  in  them  the  poorest  seems. 
The  cat,  the  dog  is  grateful;  tigers  lick 
The  hand  of  him  who  satiates  their  maw, 
But  man  can  flay  the  geuerous  hand  that  gives 
Destroy  the  giver  and  the  gift  indu'ge. 
Each  day,  it  seems,  the  times  are  growing  worse 
And  parents  should  their  infants'  love  suspect.  [Exit. 

1st  Cit.  There  is  a  weight  and  sense  in  this  discourse. 
He  speaks  the  truth  if  one  considers  well. 
It  seems  that  all  is  tumbling  out  of  joint. 
A  babe  in  Hebron  came  with  teeth  to  light 
And  scared  his  mother  with  unearthly  talk. 
Some  persons  passing  by  the  Dead  Sea  saw 
A  wondrous  castle  floating  on  its  waves, 
And  hellish  noise  and  laughter  issued  from 
Within,  and:  Herod,  Herod!   horribly 
They  heard  with  hisses  and  with  yelling  mixed. 
The  hens  are  crowing  and  the  ravens  sing, 
An  Idumean  is  Judea's  king. 

All.  [singinq]  The  hens  are  crowing  and  the  ravens  sing, 
An  Idumean  is  Judea's  king.  [Enter  a  crowd  in  haste* 

A  voice.  Protect  us,  Heaven !    Flee  for  life!  Flee,  flee! 
They  slay  like  sheep  the  citizens  they  catch! 

\Exeunt  all. 
Enter  PHERORAS  with  officers  and  soldiers. 

Pher.  That  rabble  overtake  ai  d  cut  them  off. 
The  spies  report  them  adverse  to  the  king. 

[  An  officer  and  soldiers  go. 
I  seek  the  others  massing  somewhere  else. 
Have  all  the  portals  guarded  till  the  game 
Is  down.    They  court  the  chase  and  shall  enjoy 
The  sport.    We  sweep  that  crowded  quarter  where 
Conspiracy,  they  say,  is  ever  ripe.     [Pheroras  and  soldiers  leave. 

SCENE  rv. 

A  room  in  the  palace. 
ALEXANDRA,  ARISTOBULUS,  and  MARIAMNE. 

Arist.   Had  I  Saramellas  accompanied 
With  me  the  grandsire  would  straightway  return; 
But  mother  thinks  I  am  securest  home, 
AR  if  all  roads  infested  were  with  wolves 
Aud  I  no  pluck  had  to  defend  myself. 
Was  David  older  when  he  Goliath  fought  ? 
An  idle  life  like  mine  the  body  and 
The  mind  unnerves.    I  am  too  fat  to  move, 


HEROD.  17 

And  should  this  hour  I  die  of  all  the  world 
Jerusalem  and  Jericho  I  viewed 
And  these  but  half.    How  old  must  be  a  man 
To  have  his  will  if  I  be  yet  too  young  ? 

Alex.  As  old  as  one  who  wills  but  whit  is  wise, 
And  wise  is  in  good  season,  child.     Oh,  my  son, 
Would  I  could  give  you  what  but  age  can  give ! 
How  dear  must  man  for  sound  experience  pay, 
And,  having  it,  the  chance  to  use  it  goes; 
Nor  can  this  treasure  be  an  heir's  bequest, 
Who,  in  his  turn,  oft  gathers  it  in  vain. — 
The  world  and  man  are  not  what  they  to  youth 
Appear,  dear  son.     A  parent's  frown,  as  cloud 
Impregnate  with  the  blessed  rain,  portends 
No  evil,  though  the  sight  be  dark,  while  smile 
On  stranger's  visage  oft  that  glaring  blaze 
Resembles  which  the  earthquake's  outburst  doth 
Precede.    Intrusive  friendship,  son,  distrust. 
Thy  secrets  bury  in  thy  inmost  heart. 
And  shun  those  natures  who  promotion  crave 
Unscrupulous  in  choice  of  means  and  ways. 
Suspect  the  love  of  them  who  rule  by  force; 
They  are  not  human  who  the  weak  oppress. 
A  dragon  rather  than  a  talebearer  hug; 
The  glossy  tongue  of  menial  courtlings  hate. 
Trust  Heaven,  son,  and  then  thy  mother's  care. 

Mari.  So  solemn  and  sententious  is  thy  speech, 
Dear  mother,  as  if  treason  lurking  were 
Around,  and  we  the  vanquished  were  to-day 
And  not  the  victors  by  Almighty's  grace. 
Is  not  Judea  Herod's  conquered  land, 
Who  loves  thy  daughter  more  than  life  and  throne  ? 
Suggest  the  dignity  thy  son  may  wear 
And  I  shall  answer  for  the  best  result. 
This  morn  he  of  our  grandsire  in  Parthia  spoke 
With  filial  gratitude,  affection  true. 
He  hath  a  heart,  I  find;  since,  had  he  none, 
How  could  soft  love  invade  an  iron  breast? 

Anst-  [to  Maria  nine]  And  when  may  we  the  grandsire's  return 
Expect  ?    I  am  impatient  to  behold 
His  face  who  in  his  arms  did  fondle  me 
As  babe.    He  is  the  best  of  men  on  earth ! 

Mori.  He  may  return  before  the  moon  is  round. 
A  gorgeous  escort  left  this  noon  for  him 
With  all  the  comforts  of  a  royal  train. 
The  king  is  longing  to  embrace  his  friend 
With  whom  he  means  the  kingdom  to  divide. 

Arist.  Yet  must  he  not  the  sacred  altar  tread, 
Must  not  the  people  bless  with  outstretched  hand 
Which  will  our  joy  curtail,  mar  his  delight. 

Alex.   Our  full  affection  will  his  age  suffice, 
Who  will  instruct  thee  how  to  fill  his  place. 
Thine  is  the  priesthood,  son;  thy  grandsire  will 
His  holy  vesture  thee  not  grudge  who  art 
My  child  and  of  his  flesh  and  blood     It  is 
His  wish  to  see  the  sacred  emblems  on 
Thy  breast. 


18  HEROD. 

Arist.        Would  he  could  wear  them;  I  could  wait; 
Am  yet  too  young  to  awe  a  pious  flock. 

Mari.   So  spoke  the  king  when  I  besought  him  straight 
With  priestly  state  Aristobulus  to 
Invest. 

Alex.   Is  not  my  son  entitled  to 
The  high  priest's  robe  and  the  anointment  of 
Our  great  ancestral  line  ?    A  grandchild  of 
Hyrcanus  none  can  his  inheritance 
Dispute.    He  is  the  priest  by  Heaven  and  earth 
Approved ! 

Mari.  I  see  not  who  hath  stronger  claim 
Than  he,  and  what  the  king  disturbs  is  but 
His  youth,  whom  he,  besides,  doth  love  with  all 
A  brother's  heart.    I  shall  not  rest  before 
His  scruples  yield  and  my  entreaties  long 
He  can't  resist.     He  wields  Judea  and 
I  wield  his  heart,  and  test  I  shall  how  deep 
His  love  to  me. 

Alex.  Daughter,  if  thou  must  ask, 

Entreat,  beseech  for  what  by  right  is  ours 
Then  all  thy  arts  employ  before  the  worst 
Is  done;  for  once  proclaimed,  anointed,  none 
A  high  priest  can  of  sanctity  divest, 
Except  a  fatal  accident.    My  son 
The  sacred  plates  must  wear  as  rightful  heir 
To  what  his  grandsire  should  by  right  bestow. 

Mari.  It  is  the  hour  for  me  to  see  the  king,        [Sabion  enters. 
And  I  this  favor  ask  to  test  his  love 
Which  hitherto  no  tongue  had  to  refuse. 
Aristobulus  shall  the  mitre  wear 
And  be  Judea's  ever-blessing  priest. 

Sab.  And  thou  Judea's  ever-blessed  queen. — 
Depart  not,  madam,  ere  old  Sabion  spoke. 
A  startling  rumor  bid  me  hither  haste 
To  learn  the  tidings  people  whisper  round. 
The  sacred  office — so  am  I  apprised — 
The  king  bestowed  on  one  from  Babylon. 

Alex.  BestoAved  ?    Didst  thou  not  say  bestowed  ? 

Mari.  Bestowed ! 

He  saying  this  knows  more  than  what  is  true, 
More  than  of  the  king's  plans  the  queen  doth  know.  [^Esop  enters. 
,    Alex.  Speak,  yEsop,  for  thou  hast  to  speak,  I  see. 

jflsop.   My  princess,  is  Ananelus,  the  priest, 
Of  Asmonean  descent  V 

Alex.  Ananelus ! 

Is  that  his  name  who  tramples  on  my  son?  \to  Sabion. 

Sob.  He  is  from  Babylon,  Ananelus, 
On  whom  the  king  the  priesthood  did  bestow. 

[Maria  nnie  leaves. 

Alex.  Ananelus,  thou  art  my  evil  star ! 
My  son's  disgrace,  my  father's  grief  and  mine, 
And  woes  impending  which  will  sure  evolve 
Will  bear  thy  name,  Ananelus,  to  me 
Unblest,  though  bless  thou  mayst  the  senseless  throngs ! 
Ungrateful  king !    Do  we  so  little  count 
Tn  thy  designs  that  thou  darest  thus  our  claim 


HEROD.  19 

And  station  slur  ?    Even  a  fly  can  sting, 

Why  not  a  woman's  vengeance  ruin  bring  ? 

Invulnerable  thou  art  not,  my  lord, 

And  there  are  powers  mightier  than  thy  sword. — 

Go,  friends,  I  ought  to  be  alone,  I  feel; 

Dear  Sabion,  go !  I  shall  requite  thy  zeal. 

[tiabion,  JEsop  and  Aristobulus  go. 
Fair  Cleopatra,  Antony  thy  slave 
Can  all  a  globe  not  thy  entreaties  brave; 
Through  thee  I  ask  the  priesthood  not  alone, 
But  for  my  boy  I  claim  Judea's  throne. 
Straightway  I  write  my  grievance  to  my  friend, 
By  Egypt's  help  my  son  shall  rule  this  land.  [Exit. 

SCENE  V. 

A  house  in  Babylon. 
Enter  HYBCANUS  and  SARAMELLAS. 

Hyrcanus.  Have  read  the  letters  and  my  heart  is  touched 
So  tender  is  the  breath  of  love  in  them. 
He  calls  me  father,  benefactor,  guide, 
Would  not  without  my  princely  aid  be  king; 
Without  my  wisdom,  venerable  age. 
A  son  could  not  be  more  affectionate 
Than  he,  a  stranger  to  my  house  and  heart, 
Save  that  my  grandchild's  consort  he  is  now. 
I  am  not  sorry  I  did  raise  him  well 
Who  full  deserves  the  kingly  rank  he  holds. 
He  hath  a  grateful  soul,  I  see  he  hath. — 
And  how  did  Parthia's  king  the  message  take? 

Sara.  Thou  hast  in  Phraates  quite  a  friend,  my  lord. 
He  is  unwilling  to  behold  thee  part, 
Would  not  on  Herod's  promise  much  rely, 
Hopes  that  thy  welfare  was  secure  at  home, 
And  would  no  hindrance  raise  if  thou  wilt  go. 
He  will  be  here  to  give  thee  royal  choice. 

Hyr.  If  I  would  go !     Would  1  could  borrow  of 
The  eagle  speed  to  wing  along  and  see 
My  darlings  home!    Oh,  friend,  a  time  of  gloom 
I  spent  in  this  exile,  and  ofttimes  wished 
I  were  among  the  dead.    If  life  hath  worth 
It  lies  in  those  we  love,  and  none  of  these 
Were  here  to  cheer  my  age.    Though  Phraates  did 
Me  hospitably  treat  my  soul  was  sad, 
And  oft  the  tears  did  tiow  when  I  at  night 
For  peace  the  skies  besought,  and  thought  of  them 
Who  in  Jerusalem  ever  sighed  for  me. 
I  pardoned  him  who  thus  my  figure  maimed. 
But  Heaven  avenged  my  undeserved  disgrace, 
And  for  his  crime  Antigonus  atones. —  [Enter  deputation. 

Our  brethren  dwelling  here  did  spare  no  pains 
To  link  my  soul  to  them  by  marks  of  love. 
They  are  deploring  my  departure  hence, 
And  I  regret  them  but  I  cannot  stay. — 
Step  nearer,  friends,  I  guess  your  mission's  purport. 


20  HEROD. 

1st  Elder,  {kissing  Hyrcanus'  robe]  Oh  bide  with  us  whom  we 

so  deeply  love! 

Our  high  priest  and  our  guide  art  thou,  and  all 
Who  on  Euphrates'  banks  Jehovah  praise 
Beseech  thee  through  my  lip  to  stay  with  us. 

2d  Eld.  Forsake  us  not  who  far  from  Zion  dwell, 
But  be  our  light  on  Babylonian  soil. 

3d  Eld.  Depart  not,  sir,  remain  with  us  as  head. 
They  have  the  Temple  and  thy  priestly  house, 
And  many  sages  there  the  law  expound; 
We  have  but  thee  our  age  and  youth  to  teach, 
And  with  thy  going  all  our  light  withdraws! 

Hyr.  You  move  my  soul,  I  go  reluctant  hence, 
Yet  go  I  must  now  that  my  dearest  call. 
The  One  Supreme  will  be  your  priest  and  guide, 
And  bless  you  for  the  kindness  shown  to  me. 
Here  stands  the  messenger  Judea's  king 
Did  send  to  lead  me  where  my  heart  was  chained, 
While  thus  exiled  I  yearned  for  my  home. 
No,  urge  me  not,  dear  friends,  an  impulse  to 
Subdue  which  in  man's  nature  is,  forsooth, 
The  best.    Your  hearths  and  children  bind  ye  here 
And  I  from  mine,  alas!  am  separate 
Too  long.    And  should  the  best  of  men  whose  love 
Invokes,  should  I  my  rights  inherited 
Disdain,  not  great  Judea  with  her  king, 
With  Herod  not  in  common  rule  divide? 

1st  Eld.  Not  all  is  selfishness  which  prompts  us,  sir, 
Thus  to  dissuade  thee  from  departing  hence. 
Couldst  thou  as  priest  the  holy  office  hold, 
As  monarch  mount  thy  sire's  glorious  throne 
But  half  our  grief  would 'be  to  miss  thee  here, 
Knowing  that  Israel  by  thee  is  blessed. 
But  since  thy  maim  precludes  thee  from  the  Ark, 
Remember,  sir,  that  Herod  is  a  man 
On  whom  perchance  thou  dost  rely  too  much. 

2d  Eld.  Thy  honors  here  are  not  inferior,  sir, 
To  what  at  best  thou  mayst  expect  at  home. 
Come  they  to  us  who  would  with  thee  abide, 
A  royal  treatment  we  to  all  secure 
Who  kinship  claim  with  thy  illustrious  house. 

3d  Eld.  Or:  height  of  fortune  potentates  forget 
The  favors  they,  when  humble,  did  receive, 
And  hate  as  debtors  gratitude  to  feign 
Unbearable  to  inflated  state  and  pride. 
Thy  arm  is  weak,  thou  must  on  him  depend 
Who  is  usurper  of  thy  native  rights, 
And  whom  thy  honored  presence  galling  may 
Excite.    He  will  thy  hoary  head  not  spare 
Who  in  revenge  the  Holy  Synod  slew. 

Hyr.  Unfounded  fear!    He  ever  was  my  friend 
And  went  to  Rome  to  advocate  my  cause, 
But  was  promoted  'gainst  his  will  and  hope. 
His  inexperience  forces  him  to  seek 
What  I  of  statecraft  gathered  in  my  time. 


HEROD.  < 

Either  with  him  or  I  myself  may  rule.- 

Is  not  the  errand  worded  as  I  say?  \to  Saramellas. 

Sara.  The  letters  state  it  clear. — There  comes  the  king. 

PHBAATES  and  train  enter  on  one  side,  the  deputation  leave  on 

the  other. 

Hyr.  This  honor,  king,  my  gratitude  makes  poor. 
I  came  a  captive  to  thy  warlike  land 
Prepared  to  die  a  dark,  inglorious  death, 
And  to  thy  hospitable  grace  I  owe 
That  I  once  more  my  deaiest  may  behold, 
And  then  foiever  close  mine  eyes  in  peace. 

Phra.  Not  ere  the  choicest  blessings  of  the  skies 
Alight  on  thy  anointed  head. — Thou  art 
The  priest  of  the  Most  High,  and  royalty 
Did  awe  us  in  thy  look  when  thee  we  met 
With  undisguised  intent;  wherefore  we  wished 
To  treat  thee  as  befits  a  prince.    Now  are 
We  come  to  let  thee  have  thy  choice.    Our  court 
And  treasures  open  stand  for  thee  if  them 
With  us  wilt  bide  whom  we  revere  as  friend; 
If  not,  as  friend  return  to  them  who  own 
Thy  heart. 

Hyr.        This  generous  way  encumbers  me, 
Oh,  king,  with  weight  of  royalty  I  scarce 
Can  bear.    I  go  a  debtor  to  thyself  and  land, 
And  shall  thy  kindness  on  my  heart  engrave. 
As  oft  as  for  mankind  I  Heaven  beseech 
The  king  of  Parthia  shall  remembered  be, 
Whose  noble  virtues  emulation  rouse. 
Though  high  priest  I  of  thee  I  learned  much. 
Thy  grace  in  giving  multiplied  the  gift 
And  made  the  moments  of  thy  presence  sweet. 
Yea,  Heaven  doth  through  monarchs  chastise  man 
Or  bless  him  in  the  ruler  he  obeys. 
Each  land,  each  people  mirror  but  their  kings 
Who  may  their  gods  or  may  their  demons  be. — 
May  ever  Parthia  and  Judea  thrive 
As  friendly  allies  in  the  works  of  peace, 
Be  ruled  by  kings  of  mutual  rivalry 
In  deeds  of  love  each  other  to  eclipse. 

Phra.  The  more  thy  worth  we  know  the  less  do  we 
Thy  hasty  parting  like.    It  is  thy  wish 
To  go  we  grant,  else  Herod's  urging  would 
Us  find  unmoved.     And  wouldst  thou  not  with  us 
Abide  who  thus  unwilling  part  with  thee?  » 

Hyr.  As  when  a  daughter  from  her  mother  parts 
To  find  a  home  beneath  a  lover's  roof, 
She  feels  her  parent's  dotage,  weeps  with  her, 
Yet  clings  with  fondness  to  her  husband's  breast, 
So  I,  O  king,  would  fain  divide  myself 
Could  I  my  trunk  as  I  my  soul  divide 
Betwixt  thyself  and  them  I  mostly  love. 
But  when  my  inmost  fervors  I  consult, 
I  needs  must  say  that  they  all  hither  tend 
Where  first  the  beam  of  heaven  struck  my  sight, 
Where  all  is  treasured  what  my  heart  enshrines. 


22  HEROD. 

I  long  to  die  where  once  my  cradle  stood, 
By  them  environed  who  are  part  of  me. 

Phra.  [grasping  Hyrcanus' hand]  Then '  part'with  honor  and 
my  friendship  take,  i          j 

And  may  the  future  not  thy  hopes  deceive.  [To\Saramellas. 

Tell  brother  Herod  we  his  craving  share 
To  see  henceforth  our  kingdoms  leagued  in  peace. 

f  Exeunt  Phraatesland  train* 

Hyr.  Thus  are  we  going,  though  I  truly  part 
Against  a  Avhisper  warning  in  my  heart.  [Exeunt  both* 

SCENE  VI. 

A  hall  in  the  palace. 
HEROD  and  MARIAMNE. 

Mari.  All  chat ;  the  pith  and  gist  of  love  is  love 
By  deeds  sustained.    Not  thus  doth  Antony 
Fair  Cleopatra  love  as  if  the  ptirase 
Was  equal  to  the  gift  bestowed.    He  rules 
Her  self,  she  rules  the  half  of  earth  through  him. 
The  Eoman  hero  all  can  give  he  hath, 
For  great  in  manhood  he  is  great  in  heart. 
Can  Herod  boast  of  such  unselfishness  ? 

Her.  Mariamne,  princess  of  Judea's  lord, 
The  air  I  breathe,  my  rank,  my  sword,  myself 
Are  thine!    And  should  in  kingdoms  I  mine  love 
Express  when  I  know  well  that  continents 
Are  poor  to  serve  as  figures  when  my  heart 
Computes !    Base  Cleopatra  trades  in  love 
As  coin,  and  for  her  charms  she  deems  the  world 
A  price;  but  had  great  Antony  thy  price 
To  pay,  the  orbs  of  heaven  hardly  would 
Suffice  to  buy  the  bliss  a  smile  of  thine 
Imparts,  so  dear  and  precious  seems  to  me 
Thy  worth.    I  am  a  beggar,  queen,  if  thou 
Makest  love  a  debt,  and  thinkst  my  soul  no  price 
For  thy  sweet  self. 

Mari.  I  set  no  price  for  what 

I  freely  gave  when  giandsire  Herod  named 
To  be  in  life  and  death,  in  times  or  bright 
Or  dark,  my  lord.    My  widowed  mother  founds 
Her  hopes  on  thee;  on  thee  Hyrcanus  all 
His  castles  builds.    Resemble  not  that  isle 
On  dolphin's  back  which,  fast  submerging,  wrecks 
A 'hopeful  crowd  too  confident  of  what 
They  thought  a  rock.     I  am  a  stranger  to 
Thy  deep-laid  schemes,  and  with  the  vulgar  do 
I  startled  gaze  when  Herod's  plans  behold 
The  light  of  day.    Doth  woman  live  to  warm 
Her  husband's  bed,  be  like  a  plaything  to 
A  moody  babe  who  fondles  it  or  throws 
It  to  the  winds?    Is  such  the  contract  of 
Devoted  love? 

Her.  Thou  canst  not  blame  me,  love, 
For  such  neglect  who  have  no  secret  hid 
Which  fits  a  lady's  ear.    Forgetfulness 


HEROD. 

Sometimes  doth  on  attention  draw;  yet  think 
I  not  my  memory  so  dull  as  not 
To  wing  apace  with  fondest  love.    Disprove 
It,  pigeon,  and  I  will  amend. 

Mart.  Amend ! 

Dost  thou  not  promise  more  than  thou  canst  do? 

Her.  Not  less,  my  love,  than  I  can  do  I  grant. 

Mnri.   Then  grant  the  priesthood  from  my  brother  torn 
Against  thy  promise  and  this  nation's  will, 
Against  thy  love  the  heavens  could  not  buy. 
Oh  great  in  words  how  dwarfish  are  thy  deeds 
Who  stars  canst  squander,  not  thy  love  of  self! 

Her.  Can  such  a  thing  a  cherub  move  to  wrath? 

Man'.   It  is  an  outrage  which  the  skies  resent! 
And  speak  of  love  not  when  with  sneering  leer 
Thou  dost  thine  irony  on  weakness  whet. 

Her.   Mariamne,  Mars  in  terrors  clad  I  dare 
Confront,  but  am  a  kid  when  Amor  clouds 
His  brow,  whose  darts  forever  wounding  pierce 
My  heait  and  make  a  love-sick,  whining  boy 
Of  me.    Come  smile  again,  my  queen,  for  this 
Thy  frown  my  welkin's  glare  bedims,  and  all 
Is  chaos  when  my  love  is  gloom.     Come,  love, 
I  will  Aristobulus  higher  than 
The  altar  lift,  for  which  he  is  too  young. 
The  people  would  revolt  if  I  a  boy 
Invested  with  that  awful  sanctity 
Which  hitherto  but  hoary  heads  haloed 

Mari.  My  brother  is  by  birth  the  rightful  priest, 
My  lord,  and  all  Judea  waits  to  see 
Him  in  the  sacred  robe  our  fathers  wore. 
None  thinking  him  by  youth  disqualified. 
Nay,  bitter  enmity  engender  will 
This  huge  disgrace  cast  on  the  Asmoneans, 
And  disaffected  will  thy  people  stand 
As  long  as  force  usurps  the  place  of  right. 
Thou  canst  thy  will  impose,  my  lord,  but  love 
And  honor  naught  but  loyal  actions  win. — 
This  will  be  news  for  him  who  Parthia  left 
By  thee  invited  to  be  king  at  home. — 
Great  Heaven,  I  see  afar  a  night  ascend; 
A  dreary  future  rising  dark  I  see, 
Which,  spreading,  veils  in  gloom  this  holy  land, 
This  flagrant  act  it  opes  the  tragedy.  [ Exit  Mariamne. 

Her.  (following  her  with  his  eyes)   It  opes  the  tragedy,  Mari- 
amne, yes. 

Dark  incidents  are  being  hatched  to  fill 
The  drama  I  perforce  must  play.     How  wilt 
Thou  startle  when  my  plans  are  well  matured! 
Thou  seest  the  egg-shell,  not  the  snake  within, 
Which,  bursting  forth,  will  horrify  thy  sense 
So  dreadful  is  that  monster's  hellish  thirst, 
Who  conjured  comes  to  swill  thy  kindred's  blood. 
Thy  love  to  lose  this  thought  I  cannot  bear, 
But  how  my  lofty  station  hold  amid 
A  crowd  of  scions  nobler  than  myself? 
The  cream  are  they  and  I  the  sediment ; 


24  H  B  B  0  D  . 

How  could  I  loyally  defeat  my  foes 

Who  right  and  habit  have  all  on  their  side  ? 

Like  hydra  heads  the  royal  dandies  spring 

And  no  Alcides  lives  to  check  the  crop. — 

The  morals  of  the  barking  world  I  scorn; 

It  bows  in  awe  before  the  unsheathed  sword; 

The  steel  can  bridle  disaffected  mobs; 

But  what  the  Roman  lion  makes  a  lamb, 

A  creature  of  his  mistress'  brow,  that  spell 

Is  whelming  when  a  seraph  lours,  which  thou 

Art,  sylph,  to  that  Egyptian  harlot. — Yield 

Or  not  yield.     Herod,  the  battle  is  not  won 

As  long  as  thou  must  yield.    A  woman's  toy, 

Although  I  her  adore,  I  shall  not  be ! — 

And  if  I  yield,  Mariamne,  tremble  when 

Dread  majesty  reluctant  bows!    My  love  to  thee 

Can  much  effect,  but — aye,  when  pliant  Jove 

To  Semele  did  yield  she  found  her  ruin 

In  his  consuming  love. — A  messenger! 

What,  news  from  Antony?  [Messenger  enters. 

Mess.  From  Athens  do 

I  come,  and  in  this  paper  Antony 
Doth  speak,  my  lord.  [Hands  a  paper  and?  leaves. 

Her.  [reads]  "  To  please  Judea's  king  we  will 
Antigonus  remove,  and  would  be  pleased 
To  have  the  princely  youth,  Aristobulus, 
Near  us  before  we  him  promote." — It  smells 
Not  well;  there  is  a  piece  of  Dellius'  and 
Of  Cleopatra's  cunning  in  this  broth. — 
That  helps  thee  to  the  mitre,  boy  — Promote 
The  youth!     1  know  the  lusty  Koman  who, 
Though  great  in  field,  is  sottish  when  a  whore 
Doth  smile  on  him,  and  mocketh  nature's  law 
When  virile  beauty  doth  provoke  his  lust. — 
Why  not  ? — A  boy  and  strumpet  both  beloved 
May  soon  iindo  what  I  in  years  have  done. — 
Hold,  Antony,  thou  shalt  not  thwart  my  schemes; 
Ananelus,  retire  for  a  while 
And  let  us  yielding  all  those  fools  beguile.  [Exit 

SCENE  VII. 

A  prison  in  Athens. 
Enter  ANTIGONUS,  MANAHEM  and  a  Headsman. 

Ant.  Oh  Manahem,  Manahem,  so  must  I  end 
The. last  of  Asmoneus'  glorious  line 
With  shame  opprobrious  on  my  memory  heaped ! — 
Oh  dreadful  is  thy  judgment,  Lord,  who  dost 
Oft  mortals  lift  to  deepen  but  their  fall ! — 
Unchain  my  freedom,  headsman,  let  unbound 
Me  breathe  a  while.    No  tiger  could  these  walls 
Surmount.    Why  should  this  jail  be  witness  of 
My  shame?    Is  this  a  man  of  flesh  and  blood?       [To  Manahem. 

Heads.  Behold  the  sun  before  thy  chains  are  off, 
Since  being  off  thy  head  must  down  at  once ; 
So  bid  my  orders;  I  have  to  obey. 

Mana.  But  for  a  while  suspend  the  fateful  blow 


HEROD.  25 

And  let  the  king  not  unprepared  depart.—  [To  Headsman. 

Thy  precious  seconds  waste  not,  noble  prince, 
And  reconcile  thyself  with  Heaven  and  earth. 

[The  chains  are  taken  off. 

Ant.  Oh,  call  me  coward,  yet  I  hate  to  die , 
The  basest  stignia  withering  my  name. 
He  called  me  Antigone  whom  I  could  slay, 
Instead  of  which  I  knelt  to  my  disgrace. 
I  was  a  villain  and  a  base  poltroon 
Else  would  I  pierce  that  chest  to  pity  strange. 
It  would  be  fame  to  fall  on  Sosius'  trunk. 
Oh  wretched  instinct  which  still  clings  to  life 
When  life  is  agony  and  death  relief. — 
The  beast  in  us,  Manahem,  not  the  god 
Predominates  when  we  despised  must  fall. 

Maud.    If  thus  in  wreckage  thon  dost  wisdom  learn 
Then  bless  the  tempest  which  thy  shipwreck  brought. 
Is  death  no  blessing  to  blind  man  who  errs 
While  on  his  trial  in  his  mortal  frame .' 
So  strong  is  nature's  witchcraft  o'er  mankind 
That  sovereign  reason  must  to  instinct  yield, 
And  souls  are  dreading  the  ethereal  space 
To  breathe  the  dust  of  this  heart-writhing  world. 
There  seems  none  greater  than  the  crowned  head, 
And  what  hath  he  for  all  the  cares  of  rule  ? 
That  sweetest  third  of  life  we  spend  in  sleep 
Is  more  the  peasant's  than  the  king's  repose, 
Who  rests  uneasy  by  those  phantoms  scared 
Which  haunt  his  mind  in  fullest  glare  of  day. 
And  bread  and  salt,  the  beggar's  relished  fare 
Than  royal  dainties  sweeter  are  to  health, 
To  hearts  unworried  and  to  conscience  pure. 
But  worse  than  all  to  crowned  heads  is  death, 
Whose  terrors  grow  compared  with  royal  pomp. 
How  foolish  they  who,  born  without  their  choice, 
Would  have  a  will  when  it  is  time  to  part, 
As  if  the  pleasures  tasted  here  below 
The  highest  were  a  universe  provides 
For  such  as  do  in  virtuous  deeds  delight. 

Ant.  Speak  not  of  virtue,  at  whose  sight  I  sneered, 
Browbeating  her  with  power's  haughty  front. 
But  shame  and  evil  crowd  upon  my  soul 
That  must  be  torn  from  this  decaying  flesh; 
And  when  the  deeps  unfathomable  of  the 
Hereafter  I  affrighted  pierce,  I  curse 
The  hour  in  which  I  was  conceived  to  wreck 
So  many  ere  I  wrecked  myself.     Sprung  from 
A  royal  ancestry  of  noblest  blood, 
The  savage  Parthian  I  in  crime  did  match, 
And  have  no  courage  mercy  to  implore 
Of  Him  whose  image  I  in  man  disdained. 
How  can  a  second  of  repentance  forced 
Efface  the  trail  of  crimeful,  bloody  years'? 

Mutia.  Commit  no  sin,  my  prince,  in  doubting  that 
The  greatest  God  the  greatest  is  in  grace, 
Else  how  could  frail  mankind  one  hour  subsist 
With  all  the  errors  thev  with  air  inhale? 


26  H  E  E  O  D . 

Or  wouldst  thou  Deity  with  man  compare, 
Who  sets  a  limit  to  his  mortal  love, 
And  wreaks  his  vengeance  on  a  sinking  foe '? 
No,  for  thy  shortcomings  thine  death  atones, 
And  clears  of  guilt  thy  sin-encumbered  soul. 
By  deep  remorse  do  sanctify  this  hour 
And  to  thy  ghost  upsoaring  virtue  give 
By  rueing  earnestly  thy  dark  career. 
Above  thy  lower  instincts  rise,  dear  prince, 
And  with  a  bosom  filled  with  heavenly  trust, 
A  temper  softened  by  contrition's  flow, 
Embrace  the  moment  with  a  man's  resolve 
And  part  resigned  to  the  decree  of  Heaven ! 

Ant.  Oh,  if  my  career  on  earth  had  been  as  pure 
As  my  repentance  now  is  true  and  deep, 
I  would  an  angel  not  a  sinner  die. 
Yea,  night,  eternal  night  I  do  embrace, 
And  may  in  darkness  buried  rest  my  shame; 
Come,  headsman,  come  and  cut  my  earthly  race, 
That  I  thus  fall  none  but  myself  I  blame. 

[He  leaves  followed  by  Manahem  and  the  Headsman. 


ACT    II. 

SCENE  I. 

A  hall  in  the  palace. 

HEBOD,  MARIAMNE,  ALEXANDRA,  ARISTOBULTJS  in  priestly  attire, 
PHERORAS,  DIOPHANTUS,  SARAMELLAS,  EURYCLES,  JOSEPH  and 

CoRINTHtTS. 

Herod.  Now  seems  all  joy  and  brightness  in  our  mid 
And  you,  our  queen,  are  shining  like  the  sun 
In  his  mild  glories  of  the  morrow  wrapt, 
And  we  are  brightening  at  your  radiant  smile. 
What  is  a  throne  devoid  of  loveliness, 
A  world  of  wealth  without  a  blessed  saint ! 
More  than  the  beggar  feels  the  want  of  bread 
The  careworn  sovereign  needs  the  charm  of  love 
To  sweeten  soothingly  his  restless  days. 
That  smile  to  chain  we  would  a  treasure  give 
Could  by  some  magic  we  arrest  its  beam, 
Since  having  it  our  day  would  never  end  — 
And  you,  our  mother,  are  not  less  enjoyed 
As  if  your  heart  no  ardent  wish  enclosed. 
Yet  if  a  longing  slumbers  in  your  breast 
Which  we,  perchance,  are  slow  to  satisfy 
This  hour  be  yours;   demand,  we  grant, 
And  let  no  sigh  becloud  this  festive  day. 

Alex.  So  satiate  of  the  moment's  joy  is  mind 
And  heart  in  me,  my  king,  that  for  a  wish 
There  is  scarce  room  in  them,  except  the  one 
That  what  I  see  and  have  may  ever  last! 
Mattathias'  immortal  offsprings  for 


HEROD.  27 

The  purple  fought  my  SOD  as  high  priest  hath 

A  claim  to  wear,  for  in  his  veins  the  blood 

Of  Maccabseus,  Simon  and  Jonathan  flows 

Who  for  Judea's  freedom  striving  fell. 

Yet  is  by  Heaven's  will  the  power  thine, 

And  I  am  thankful  for  my  daughter's  share 

Of  the  inheritance  endeared  to  us. 

Am  thankful  that  my  sire's  office  filled 

Is  by  mine  son.    Henceforth  no  thought  of  mine 

Shall  wrong  thee,  king ;  and  if,  thy  unrevealed 

Designs  mistaking,  I  oft  rued  thy  course, 

Forgive,  my  lord,  a  mother's  throbbing  heart 

Who  for  her  children  would  herself  consume. — 

And  now  a  favor  grant,  my  lord,  and  share 

The  banquet  I  in  Jericho,  my  son's 

Promotion  duly  to  acknowledge,  have 

Ordained.    May  none  who  friend  is  of  thy  throne 

Be  absent  from  the  joyous  feast  I  give. 

Her,  We  rate  it  highly  to  be  named  your  guest, 
And  shall  our  court  command  to  honor  you 
In  all  particulars  of  royal  state. 
We  owe  you  much  for  our  beloved  queen 
Who  to  our  bosom  dearer  is  than  thrones, 
And  do  our  best  to  stimulate  her  love 
And  have  your  friendship  and  esteem  withal. — 
There  comes  the  hoary  sire  whom  we  revere, 
By  us  invited  to  endow  the  youth 

Enter  HYBCANUS  and  train — all  incline  their  heads 
With  all  the  symbols  of  the  sacred  rank. — 
Come,  father,  and  thy  grandson  raise  to  that 
Distinction  which  thy  life  adorned.     Invest 
Aristobuhis  with  the  high  priest's  awe. 
Be  he  the  minister  of  the  Great  One 
And  on  this  Harvest  Feast  let  him  the  skies 
For  us  and  human  kind  beseech. 

Hyr.   \his  hand  on  Arigtobufau?  head\  My  son, 
The  truth  from  Sinai's  height  to  Israel 
Revealed  engrave  upon  thy  tender  heart 
And  by  it  led  thy  sacred  calling  fill. 
Thou  art  the  teacher  of  a  prince'y  race 
Ordained  to  save  the  erring  tribes  of  man, 
And  on  thy  lip  this  nation's  weal  depends. 
Thy  station  bids  thee  soar  above  this  world, 
Confront  corruption  with  a  manly  breast 
And  purge  of  errors  straying  multitudes. 
Unlike  the  heathen  priests  who  sway  the  crowds 
By  superstitious  practice,  false  pretense, 
Judea's  priesthood  claims  the  sacrifice 
Of  those  who  vow  its  banner  to  uphold 
With  all  the  manhood  sacred  truth  involves! 
Thou  all  sublunar  passions  must  forswear 
Except  the  worship  of  the  awful  One, 
With  glowing  ardor  thrilling  every  soul, 
And  virtue  tested  by  the  tongue  of  deeds.— 
This  oil  I  pour  upon  thy  youthful  locks 

\pouring  oil  on  his  head. 


28  HEROD. 

Transfers  on  thee  a  people's  holiest  trust, 
And  opes  the  Sanctuary's  fearful  Shrine 
Where  thou  shalt  pray  for  Israel  and  man. — 
And  thou  Supremest  of  all  beings  high, 
His  prayers  hear  whenever  he  invokes 
Thy  boundless  grace  for  them  who  living  err; 
And  may  through  him  this  country  thriving  grow, 
This  monarch's  reign  be  one  of  lasting  peace ! 

Her.  And  our  felicitation,  brother,  take, 
Who  from  our  heart  bestow  on  thee  the  rank. 
The  sky  beseech  that  we  may  prosper  well 
In  what  abroad  we  foster  or  at  home, 
And  teach  the  tribes  to  venerate  their  king 
Whom  Heaven  chose  this  country  to  redeem 
From  foreign  bondage  and  intestine  strife. 
We  stand  determined  for  the  land's  repute 
And  shall  its  prestige  jealously  maintain 
If  not  disturbed  by  unsubmissive  mobs, 
Whom  thou  as  teacher  timely  must  exhort 
And  spare  us  bloodshed  in  defence  of  peace. 

Arist.  Could  I  my  soul's  emotion  on  the  tongue 
Uplift,  and  utterance  impart  to  what 
I  thrilling  feel,  no  eye  is  here  but  would 
With  sympathy  for  my  affrighted  youth 
Pathetically  melt  and  overflow. — 
Must  I  in  wisdom  poorer  than  in  years, 
And  in  the  latter  wanting  to  a  score 
Approach  invokingly  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
A  mediator  stand  betwixt  the  heavens 
And  earth !    The  wisest  heads  whom  learned  age 
Adorned,  struck  with  the  dreadful  sacredness 
Of  Him  who  in  the  Holiest  of  Holies  dwells, 
When  on  the  great  Atonement  Day  they  yon 
Sequestered  space  bestrode,  their  terror  of 
Jehovah's  breath  much  stronger  foand  than  life, 
And  I  should  face  that  all-enkindling  blaze 

With  thousand  follies  boyhood  hath  in  train!  [He  kneels. 

Oh  Lord  Zebaoth  who  my  fathers  braced 
When  with  bare  sword  Judea's  foes  they  faced 
And  fell  devoted  to  Thy  sacred  word, 
Hear  when  I  pray  and  what  I  pray  accord! 
Let  me  be  worthy  of  Thy  holy  trust 
And  serve  thee  faithful,  ardent  to  the  last. 
This  realm  may  prosper  in  its  blessed  clime, 
This  nation  triumph  as  in  Solomon's  time ! 

[He  rises;  Alexandra  and  Mariamne  kiss  him,  Herod  and 
Hyrcanus  congratulate,  the  others  bow  in  reverence;  while 
the  king,  the  queen,  Alexandra,  Hyrcanus  and  trains  depart 
Pheroras  beckons  Eurycles  to  stay.] 

Pher.  Well,  friend,  how  look  these  things  to  one  from  Greece? 

Eury.    Not  worse  than  to  the  fool  from  Palestine. 
A  priest,  a  cloak,  a  blessing  and  a  talk 
Leave  me  as  frigid  as  a  frozen  fish  ; 
But  for  the  queenly  kiss  I  barefoot  ran 
On  Hades'  coal.    She  beats  the  heroine 
Of  Troy,  and  I  a  hundred  Hectors  would 


HEROD.  29 

For  her  encounter.    Zounds,  Herod  hath  a  cause 
To  live  and  strive;  for  with  a  grace  like  this 
What  treasures  has  the  earth  that  are  not  his  ? 

Pher.  Thou  art  a  Greek  of  Helen's  native  soil, 
And  strains  like  this  are  common  in  your  land; 
But  if  thou  ever  art  of  Herod's  suite' 
Avoid  to  give  such  sentiments  a  sound 
Lest  fortune  flees  thee  by  mine  brother's  side. 

Enry.  He  would  not  others  hear  his  wealth  compute  ? 

Pher.  He  would  his  eunuchs'  impotence  not  trust 
And  loves  not  him  who  wondering  eyes  his  queen. 

Etiry    Saturnia,  perhaps  gave  Herod  birth; 
His  jealousy  is  worthy  of  her  brood. — 
I  am  no  eyeless  eunuch,  prince,  and  will 
My  suit  to  serve  Judea's  king  retract. 

Pher.  Is  silence  galling  to  a  man  of  wit? 
Success  will  follow  him  who  can  be  mute. 
Is  woman's  weakness  not  her  tongue's  defect, 
And  manhood's  strength  not  full  control  of  speech  ? 

Eury.  I  stand  instructed,  prince,  and  will  comply 
If  I  be  welcome  to  the  wondrous  king. 

Pher.  The  wondrous  king  dislikes  not  wondrous  men 
Who,  like  thyself,  come  with  their  fortunes  to 
Enhance  their  wondrous  luck.    But  lucre  not, 
Good  man,  will  pave  to  Herod's  confidence 
Thy  way.    The  servants  he  selects  must  be 
Of  mettle  other  than  the  vulgar  type. 

Eury.  By  thundering  Jove,  I  am  the  flesh  he  wants, 
My  sole  ambition  being  to  unearth 
Unruly  rascals  and  betray  abuse! 
As  all  of  us  can  neither  monarchs  be 
Nor  lords,  nor  otherwise  of  dazzling  note, 
The  best  of  means  to  conquer  some  repute 
Is  to  connect  one's  fate  with  those  who  reign 
And  be  promoter  of  their  higher  ends. 
What  are  we  if  no  factors  in  the  whirl 
Of  life !    Let  woman  cry  for  rest,  but  man 
In  strirring  action  seeks  and  finds  his  poise. 
I  thirst  for  deeds,  and  hope  the  field  is  found 
Or  I  have  vainly  left  my  slothful  home 
In  search  of  emprise  nowhere  to  be  had. 
It  is  a  crawling  age  in  which  we  live, 
My  prince,  and  all  the  world  would  snore  but  for 
The  Roman  who  the  bustle  stirs. 

Pher.  We  in 

This  quarter  have  some  pith  as  well  and  in 
The  king  thou  wilt  a  temper  find  who  would 
In  naught  to  any  Roman  yield.    First  know 
The  man  whom  Antony  an  equal  deems 
In  pluck  to  conquer  and  in  ctaft  to  rule. 
Think  not  so  lightly  of  our  valor,  friend, 
By  Bx>me  acknowledged  and  by  facts  sustained. 

Eury.  Your  wide  renown  drew  hither  me,  my  lord, 
And  manly  pride  incites  to  serve  the  great. 
The  Spartan  learned  Herod  to  extol 
And  thinks  it  station  to  be  among  his  train. 
But  this  is  more,  it  seems,  than  I  deserve, 


30  H  E RO D  . 

Who  thus  presumptuously  would  rank  attain. 
Nay,  better  I  withdraw  and  go  my  way 
Than»cringe  a  suppliant  at  this  famous  court. 
Why  not  abide  in  mute  obscurity, 
Instead  of  craving  such  an  envious  lot 
As  few  can  get  devoid  of  titled  names  ? 

Pher.  Mistake,  mistake!    Be  not  too  humble,  man, 
And  give  no  preference  to  a  scurvy  stock 
Of  rotten  settlings  o'er  a  breed  of  steel. 
This  time  the  vulgars  in  their  clutches  hold 
The  world,  and  they  of  royal  lineage  may 
The  vapors  smell  of  what  the  upstarts  feast, 
But  lack  in  nerve  the  booty  to  dispute. 
Thy  vulgar  origin  commends  thee'well, 
And  I  will  prompt  the  king  to  have  thee  nigh. 
Be  not  afar  should  I  thy  presence  want. 
Meanwhile  be  student  of  all  men  and  things 
And  let  no  striking  incident  thy  watch 
Elude. — Be  near  when  from  the  Shrine  the  king 
And  court  return,  and  scent  the  current  of 
The  rabble's  views. — Be  near,  I  shall  somehow 
Requite  thy  costly  gifts. 

Eury.  My  prince — 

Pher.  No  word ! 

Be  near  at  .Jericho.  I  Exit  Pheroras. 

Eury.  I  shall  be  near, 

So  near  that  of  thy  shadow  my  Greek  nose 
Shall  make  a  part.    It  is  a  risk  to  give 
So  much  away  to  buy  admission  to 
A  quivering  throne  and  be  the  creature  of 
'An  upstart  rogue.    But  in  this  hunting  world 
Thou  canst  unhazardously  not  a  rat 
Or  hare  entrap.    If  I  in  Herod  am 
Deceived  and  find  him  wiser,  better  than 
A  cunning  knave,  a  man  by  consciousness 
And  usages  controlled,  my  prospects  fade 
And  1  my  wreckage  have  too  dearly  bought. 
But  what  of  him  I  know  by  hearsay  tends 
To  prove  that  he  much  bolder  is  in  act 
Than  in  his  wisdom  deep,  and  that  his  creed 
Is  pliant  as  his  mind.    Love  softens  him ; 
Ambition  and  suspicion  haunt  his  rest 
And  magnify  the  spectres  of  his  fear. 
How  easy  to  confound  a  man  like  this ! 
So  much  I  know  that  he  his  wife  adores 
But  would  her  stock  exterminate  at  once 
Had  he  a  shade  of  ground  to  justify 
The  crime.    He  wants  a  rogue  of  such  a  type 
As  I  am  through  and  through,  just  made  to  fill 
The  vacancy.    Be  it,  however,  kno\*n 
To  these  unspeaking  walls  that  not  for  love 
To  Herod  do  his  confidence  I  seek, 
But  hunt  my  interest  in  hunting  him. 
I  may  be  lamb  or  tiger  in  this  frame, 
It  all  depends  upon  the  means  I  need 
To  get  what  I  much  higher  rate  than  fame; 
Thedevil's  lucre  is  my  Grecian  creed.  [Exit. 


HEROD.  31 

SCENE   II. 

A  room  in  th<    jm/tici'. 
Enter  CIPBOS  and  SALOME. 
Cyprox.  Let  her  upon  her  rotten  lineage  perch. 
My  tree  is  young  and  vigorous,  and  can 
Her  slurs  defy.    Enough  my  son  is  king 
Against  her  kindred  and  her  own  consent, 
And  she  may  plume  herself  to  have  his  love. 

Sal.  His  love  and  what  a  monarch  thus  enslaved 
May  to  his  arrogant  enchantress  give. 
What  can  a  woman  not  who  knows  her  might ! 
Mariamne  knows  that  Herod  is  her  slave, 
And  would  his  power  forfeit  rather  than 
Her  lukewarm  love.     I  wonder  not  that  he    ' 
A  sister's  tenderness  but  slightly  notes, 
But  loathe  is  every  filial  sense  in  me 
When  I  his  wife  above  his  mother  in 
Superior  loftiness  exalted  see. 
Oh  fie,  to  be  so  great  and  yet  so  weak ! 

Gyp.  It  is  no  weakness  in  a  man  to  love, 
Though  weak  it  is  to  love  beyond  degree. 
His  father  likewise  was  a  burning  type 
Yet  knew  he  measure  in  his  glowing  heat, 
And  I  ofttimes  in  vain  have  tried  to  move 
Him  off  a  scheme  on  which  his  heart  was  set. 
In  every  feature  Herod  is  his  like, 
In  manly  hardiness,  tempestuous  wrath, 
In  crafty  projects  puzzling  friend  and  foe. 
Uxoriousness  cannot  his  dotage  be, 
And  if  it  be  it  surely  hath  a  bound. 

60  Z.  If  [  judge  well  he  loves  but  is  not  loved, 
Or  those  he  honors  she  would  honor  too, 
Instead  of  treating  us  with  marked  contempt. 

Cup.  Contempt !  no,  say  not  this.    Mariamne  shows 
No  liking  for  us  all,  'tis  true,  but  naught 
I  know  of  proves  the- feeling  thou  didst  name. 

Sal.  That  means  she  did  not  spit  at  us  when  we 
In  homage  bowed  before  her  queenly  grace, 
While  she  did  graciously  our  fealty  by 
A  nod  return,  sometimes  a  smile  so  forced 
That  words  but  little  to  the  scorn  could  add. 
What  could  she  do  she  did  not  to  abate 
Our  pride  ?    Once  I  of  father's  greatness  spoke. 
"Yes,  great  through  him  who  greater  is  than  he." 
Alluding  to  Hyrcanus  this  she  said. 
And  when  of  Herod's  matchless  valor  I 
Dilating  spoke,  she  asked  me  sueeringly 
If  I  thought  Judas  Maccabseus  was 
As  brave  as  he,  withdrawing  ere  I  time 
Had  to  reply.     Such  haughty  ways  the  best 
Of  natures  must  envenomingly  wound.  [Enter 

I  hate  that  woman  whom  I  long  to  sting. 

'  '///>.  What  brings  my  son  beside  himself  to-day  ? 

I'l/cr.  If  aught  I  bring  it  more  weighs  than  myself, 
Who  but  for  stomachs  which  give  fools  some  weight 
Would  be  too  light  to  walk  against  the  wind. 


32  HEROD 

Sal.  Thy  dagger  makes  thee  ponderous  for  thy  foe» 
Who  by  a  breath  would  blow  thee  off  the  earth. 

Pher.  Let  daggers,  sister,  in  their  scabbards  rust 
Now  that  the  black-eyed  maidens  garlands  weave 
And  every  pathway  strewed  is  with  sweet  flowers. 
From  all  the  corners  of  Judea's  reach 
The  joyous  crowds  come  streaming  to  the  Shrine 
The  Feast  of  Harvest  duly  to  observe, 
To  hear  the  high  priest's  tuneful  clarion  voice, 
To  kiss  his  purple's  border,  shed  a  tear, 
Receive  his  new-hatched  blessing,  see  the  queen, 
And  then  on  blessing,  beauty,  high  priest,  king, 
Oppression,  tyranny  descant  at  home. 
But  we  have  something  more — a  feast,  a  feast, 
A  banquet  at  the  mansion  of  the  dame 
In  Jericho,  who  overjoyed  with  her 
Endeared  heir's  advancement,  king  and  court 
Invites  to  honor  him  now  worshipped  by 
The  mob.    You  will,  of  course,  be  with  us  there 
To-night.    I  guess  there  will  be  fun  for  you. 

Cyp.  Would  not  frail  age  my  absence  justify  ? 
I  am  too  old  for  feasts  and  frolic  sports. 

Pher.  Command  thy  son  who  will  thy  age  excuse. — 
But  thou,  Salome,  bear  us  company; 
The  king  would  miss  thee  and  the  court  withal; 
Among  the  fairs  there 'should  be  one  of  us. 

Sal.  I  hate  to  meet  the  overbearing  queen 
Who  in  imperious  insolence  her  dam 
Excels.    Yet  not  to  fly  her  sight  I  am 
Resolved,  but  with  my  valiant  brothers  shall 
My  place  maintain.    I  am  a  princess  as 
She  is  a  queen,  nor  was  my  father  less 
A  man  than  hers. — I  shall  the  feast  attend 
Which  may  for  them  in  doleful  sorrow  end.  [Exit. 

Pher.  A  red-hot  fury  this  and  gentle  vow. — 
What,  by  Azazel,  means  this  pitchy  rage  ? 

Cyp.  The  queen's  demeanor  stings  one  to  the  quick 
And  naught  is  done  to  damp  her  haughtiness. 
We  have  good  reasons  to  resent  her  slurs. 

Pher.  Did  her  Mariamne  offer  blunt  offense? 

Cyp.  As  blunt  as  faces,  words  and  acts  betray. 
Thou  knowest  well  she  liketh  not  our  house. 

Pher.  Not  more  nor  less  than  we  her  kindred  like; 
Yet  should  it  never  come  to  open  war 
Until  by  force  and  guile  we  one  by  one 
Remove.    Vivacious  is  her  withering  stock 
We  must  by  inches  extirpate;  but  spoil 
Our  method  not  by  such  unmeasured  shows. 

Gyp.  Is  not  Hyrcanus  still  in  power  high, 
Aristobulus  not  the  priest  of  state  ? 
You  nurse  the  hydra  which  in  morsels  cut 
Would  out  of  every  piece  conjure  a  snake. 
I  see  no  wisdom  in  your  method,  boys. 

Pher.  If  hydra  heads  would  each  a  hydra  turn 
We  torches  had  each  hydra's  head  to  burn . 
Events  will  speak,  thus  let  me  silent  be 
And  mutely  ripen  our  sure  victory.    [Exeunt  Pheroras  and  Cypros. 


HEROD.  33 

SCENE   III. 

Before  the  Temple. 

Enter  SABION,  2Esop,  and  a  crowd  all  bearing  branches  of  palm, 
trees  and  boughs  of  myrtle. 

jEsop.  Oh  Sabion,  friend,  dear  Sabion,  why  not  weep! 
Not  weep  with  joy!    I  am  a  woman,  faith, 
But  who,  beholding  that  imperial  youth 
In  purple  clad  and  towering  over  all  » 

The  pious  throngs,  could  master  his  delight  ? 
I  wept,  all  wept,  while  he  did  minister. 
Didst  thou  the  king  observe  ?    Dejected,  eh  ? 
Dejected;  paled  he  not? 

Sab.  Be  not  so  loud, 

The  people  there  have  ears,  and  when  the  king 
Is  named  they  listen  eagerly. — Well,  friends. 
This  palm  and  myrtle  show  will  haunt  you  far, 
And  furnish  rich  material  for  a  tale 
To  be  recounted  at  your  distant  homes. 
Our  high  priest's  blessing  light  on  you,  good  men!  [To  the  crowd. 

^Esop .    Ho,  friends,  God  bless  our  youthful  priest !    Send  up 
Your  prayers  for  the  lordly  youth  in  whom 
This  land  and  people  may  be  fully  blessed ! 

Enter  another  crowd.    A  voice  is  heard. 
Revere  the  high  priest  coming  from  the  Shrine ! 
[Herod  and  suite,  Hyrcanus,  Aristobulus  in  holy  vesture  issue 
from  the  Temple's  portal.     At  seeing  Aristobulus  all 

incline  their  heads  and  the  multitude  exclaims :  \ 
Long  live  Aristobulus,  our  hign  priest! 

A  Voice.  A  cheer  for  Hyrcanus,  a  cheer  for  Hyrcanus,  ho! 

Crowd.  Hail  King  Hyrcanus,  pray  for  King  Hyrcanus! 

A  Voice.  Five  cheers  for  Herod,  five  cheers  for  Herod,  ho! 
(Thecroivd  grows  tumultuous:  coughing,  laughing  and  sneezing 
are  heard  while  the  train  passes  by,  the  king  being  visibly 
affected.} 

A  Voice.  A  groan,  a  groan  !— 

Another  Voice.  A  cough,  a  kick,  and  a  groan !    [Loud  laughter. 

.sKsop.  Hear  me,  ye  sons  of  Judea,  hear  me  and  do 
What  1,  the  servant  of  our  princess,  say. 

A  Citizen.  Hear  him,  hear  .<Esop,  silence,  ho,  hear  him ! 

Another  Cit.  Friends,  lend  this  man  an  ear  who  bears  some  news 
With  him;  he  is  the  faithful  servant  of — 

Another  Cit.  Shut  up,  we  know,  we  hear  him ! — Speak,  ^Esop —    , 
The  news,  what  are  the  news  thou  hast,  we  hear. 

^Esop.  Our  high  priest's  mother.  Alexandra,  our 
Fair  princess,  celebrates  the  coming  eve 
At  Jericho  her  son's  promotion  by 
A  sumptuous  feast,  to  which  you  all,  who  may 
Before  this  day's  decline,  that  city  reach, 
Are  welcome,  welcome  rich  and  poor!    A  cheer 
For  the  princess,  ho !  a  cheer  for  the  princess ! 

Crowd.  Hail  princess!    Long  live  the  princess.     [Exit  croird. 

Sab.  What  more 

Can  Alexandra  wish  now  that  her  son 
The  longed-for  furtherance  secured  ?    He  is 
A  brilliant  youth,  and  she  may  weep  with  joy. 


34:  HEROD. 

JEsop.  Oh,  she  was  sighing  for  this  blessed  day, 
And  may  no  cloud  her  sunny  visions  dim. — 
The  king  was  pale  and  bit  his  under  lip 
When  him  the  roaring  mass  would  not,  as  king 
Salute,  while  they  Hyrcanus  and  the  youth 
Rejoicingly  did  hail. — How  may  things  end? 

Sab.  How  may  things  end  ? 

jfisop.  Yes,  Sabion,  I  have  thoughts 

So  odd  that  I  would  fain  be  called  a  fool. 

Sab.  What  are  thy  thoughts? 

JEsop.  My  thoughts  ? 

Sab.  Ay,  let  me  hear 

Thy  thoughts ;  perchance  we  guess  and  fear  the  same. 

jEsop.  I  fear  the  worst,  and  guess  that  schemes  are  ripe 
Against  the  Asmoneans. — I  hit  thy  guess  ? 

Sab.  Humph — 

JEsop.  Humph,  well,  I  wish  thou  couldst  convince  me  that 

I  am  a  fool. — There  is  no  amity 
Betwixt  the  princess  and  the  king,  who  did 
Against  his  will  the  youth  promote,  and  that 
Acclaim  the  king  makes  jealous  of  the  prince. 
The  priucess  still  on  Cleopatra  counts, 
And  through  Antonius'  mistress  much  can  do. 
Aristobulus  would  not  minister 
Had  Egypt  through  that  Roman  not  prevailed 
To  put  the  mitre  where  it  justly  rests. 

S'ib.  What  could  this  happy  state  of  things  upset, 
Aristobulus  being  in  h.is  place? 

JEsop.  As  was  Ananelus  ejected  though 
In  violation  of  our  sacred  Law. 
There  is  a  tempest  brewing  in  the  air, 
I  smell  it,  Sabion,  smell  it  and  I  pray 
That  He  in  Heaven's  shield  the  guiltless  heads. — 
Enough  of  this,  it  softens  me  to  tears. — 
Thou  wilt  to  Jericho  with  me  proceed 
There  tankards  huge  are  filled  for  thee  and  all. — 
I  prattle  forth  when  I  should  be  where  I 
Am  wanted  most.— Wilt  thou  to  Jericho? 

Sab.  Go  on  thy  way,  my  horse  will  bring  me  there 
In  time.    I  have  some  biisiness  here  to  do. 

j?Esnp.  Thou  must  not  disappoint  the  princess,  man, 
Who  would  in  thee  a  loyal  countenance  miss. 

Sab.  I  shall  be  there  'if  I  be  yet  alive. 

jEsnp.  Come  not  too  late  and  bring  what  friends  thou  hast. 
Why,  it  is  sultry  to  be  sure  to-day. 

Sab.  It  is  a  glowing  noon.    Farewell.    I  must 
Return  and  see  my  folks  at  home. 

JEsop.  Farewell.     [Exit  j-Esop. 

Sab.  That  honest  prattler  bears  his  heart  upon 
His  tongue,  and  sees  what  every  one-eyed  man 
Can  dreaming  see.    Proud  Alexandra  on  my 
Adherence  counts  which  makes  the  monarch  hate 
Me  in  extreme.    He  bears  me  rancor  since 
By  mine  device,  he  knows  too  well,  the  shrewd 
Antipater  was  murderously  slain. 
It  is  a  risky  game  I  play,  but  I 
Must  try  to  make  the  king  believe  I  am 


HEROD.  35 

His  friend  by  keeping  him  apprised  of  what 

Concerning  Alexandra's  moves  I  know. — 

Thy  cause  is  lost,  my  princess,  thus  forgive 

That  on  thy  downfall  I  attempt  to  live.  \Exit. 

SCENE    IV. 

Jericho.     Night.     A  garden  before  Alexandra's  '.mansion  all 

illuminated.    Noise  and  music  heard. 

Enter  EUBYCLES. 

/•'iirycles.     So  am  since  hours  I  hanging,  like  a  wolf 
About  a  stinking  carcass,  round  this  house, 
And  wrapt  in  dusky  twilight  I  did  many 
A  secret  overhear  which  clearly  show 
Some  tapers  here  mean  gory  work  to-night. 
I  could  not  well  connect  the  purport  of 
The  whispered  talk  except  that  drowning  in 
A  fish-pond  is  the  meditated  sport, 
And  this  while  swimming  in  a  playful  mood. 
"Who  is  the  cub  to  get  the  dip  1  have 
To  guess. — Hush,  another  pair  come  to  consult 
In  dark.    I  must  withdraw  just  far  enough 
To  catch  the  substance  of  the  low  discourse. 

(He  withdraws.    PHEROBAS  and  PHABATUS  Enter'). 

Pher.  Now  mark  me  well,  the  new-fledged  priest  must  go, 
Be  drowned  in  sport,  of  course,  to  suffocate 
Suspicion  'gainst  the  king  and  court.    He  must- 
Be  dipped,  Phabatus,  or  the  work  of  years 
Is  lost.    It  is  an  act  of  self-defense. 

Pknb.  I  have  the  parties  trained  for  the  affair. 
Once  in  the  wave  he  never  shall  return; 
The  Galls  will  dip  him  till  his  breath  is  out. 
But  how  to  get  him  there,  that  is  the  pinch. 

Pher.  Let  me  take  care  of  this.    I  have  a  means 
Concocted  with  the  king  to  tempt  him  there, 
When  thou  must  do  the  rest  if  thou  art  man 
Enough  thy  furtherance  to  effect.     It  is 
A  bidding  which  a  favor  can  be  deemed. 

Phab.  llely  on  me  the  moment  he  is  there. 

[The  king  comes  forth. 
He  shall  be  drowned  or  I  will  drown  myself. 

Pher.  1  see  the  king  who  likely  seeks  for  me. — 
Go  hold  in  readiness  thy  valiant'band.  [Exit  Phabatus. 

Eury.  [emerging^  I  will  accost  him  now;  but  lo!  the  king! 
Well,  be  it  so,  I  still  approach  the  prince. —          [Stepping  forth. 
Dear  lord,  excuse  an  uninvited  guest, 
But  thee  obeying  I  did  follow  here. 

Her.  [drnwing  near  Pheroras]  Who  is  that  man  emerging  from 
the  dark? 

Pher.  He  took  me  by  surprise,  I  do  profess. 
But  own  he  is  a  man  I  like,  a  Greek, 
A  wary  Spartan  who  the  king  would  serve, 
And  bids  a  fortune  to  repay  the  right 
Of  being  one  of  thy  devoted  suite.          [Cheers  and  music  heard. 

Her.  What  canst  thou  do  a  common  rogue  could  not  ? 

Eury.  I  can  my  lord's  intention  make  the  mine, 
His  purpose  serve  at  cost  of  limb  and  life, 


36  H  E  K  0  D . 

His  secrets  bury  in  my  faithful  breast, 
Unfolding  such  as  I  can  steal  of  foes. 
There  is  no  task  I  shun  a  man  can  do. 

Her.  Of  all  the  Grecian  creeds  the  which  is  thine  ? 

Eury.  That  one  by  which  I  best  can  thrive  below. 
I  trust  a  feast  is  better  than  a  fast, 
That  he  who  dares  not  run  will  come  the  last, 
That  five  is  more  than  four,  and  three  than  two. 
That  what  is  best  for  me  I  sure  must  dp. 

Her.  Thou  art  of  Satan's  most  tenacious  boys, 
I  see,  and  canst  do  useful  work  in  my 
Employ .     The  Greeks  are  great  in  every  sense. — 
Is  he  not  privy  to  our  dark  design  ?  [  To  Pheroras. 

Pher.  Not  that  I  know,  unless  he  heard  me  to 
Phabatus  speak.  [Looking  at  Eurycles. 

Eury.  I  heard  or  heard  not,  just 

As  you  would  have  me  framed. 

Her.  Thy  fortune  we 

Decline,  but  do  thy  service  readily 
Accept.     Acquaint  him,  prince,  with  our  intents 
To-night,  and  let  the  others  welcome  him 
As  guest.— Suggest  the  garden  for  a  cool 
Disport.    The  air  is  close  and  they  are  all 
Intoxicate  with  merriment  and  wine. 

[Pheroras  and  Eurycles  enter  the  house,  whence  noise,  cheers 
and  music  issue  all  the  time.] 

Her.  So  must  it  be  or  I  am  soon  undone, 
The  people  treat  me  not  as  monarch,  whilst 
The  priestly  grandchild  and  his  grandsire  live. 
Thou  first,  my  boy,  and  then  the  old  out  of 
My  path  must  come.    Pah,  conscience,  conscience,  when 
One  sees  that  nature  none  hath  in  her  course. 
What  is  there  is  and  that  is  all  that  is. 
There  is  necessity  and  force.    That  kind 
Which  strongest  is  in  mould  survives  the  rest. 
There  is  no  conscience  in  great  nature's  realms! 
It  is  the  bugaboo  by  woman  nursed 
And  superstitious  priests,  as  if  not  on 
The  fly  the  spider,  and  on  both  the  bird 
Doth  feed,  as  on  the  lamb  the  wolf,  and  on 
The  harmless  beast  mankind.    But  man ! — Yea,  man 
With  soul,  with  reason,  conscience,  choice;  the  lord 
Of  earth,  and  Heaven's  image — man  should  be — what  ? 
Divine!  infallible,  perfect,  like — like  whom? 
Well  here  we  stop. — Like  whom  ?    The  story  tells 
What  saints  they  were  who  taught  us  to  be  good. 
See  father  Abraham  his  concubine 
And  babe,  to  please  her  jealous  mistress,  drive 
To  dreary  wilderness  with  bread  and  water 
For  a  day.    See  cunning  Jacob  Esau's  rights 
Appropriating  by  a  rogish  trick ; 
His  saintly  sons  enslave  their  flesh  and  blood. 
See  Moses  murder  in  a  fit  of  rage, 
Aaron  shape  an  idol  for  the  mob. 
Why  speak  of  David  who  the  husband  slays 
To  hide  the  lechery  of  adulterous  sheets ! 
Why  name  his  darling  whose  death  he  bewails, 


HEROD.  37 

After  the  chase  the  son  his  father  gave ! 
A  goodly  multitude  of  saints  these  are 
To  whom  compared  I  am,  of  course,  profane; 
Nay,  too  profane  to  rule  this  godly  race ! 
I  am  not  of  the  Asmonean's  blood, 
And  as  in  clipping  brother's  ears  I  can 
Antigonus  not  match,  I  shall  confine 
Myself  to  clipping  heads  and  drowning  those 
I  like  not  in  my  way. — When  thou  art  still, 
Hyrcanus,  no  Endor's  Witch  thy  slumber  shall 
Disturb.     But  there  is  time  for  thee,  old  man; 
Thy  fledgeling  must  be  first  enskied,  and  thpu 
Shalt  follow  him. — The  doors  are  opening  wide; 
The  guests  must  not  behold  me  here  alone.  [Exit. 

[Servants  bearing  torches  open  the  doors.  The  Queen,  Alexan- 
dra, Salome,  and  other  ladies  followed  by  Hyrcanus,  Aristob- 
nlus,  Pheroras,  Diophantus,  Saramellas,  Joseph,  Phabatus, 
Corinthus,  Eurycles,  Sabion,  and  ^Esop  come  forth.} 

dEsop.  More  lights!     Illumine  the  groves,  ho,  more  lights! — 
The  groves  are  cool,  delicious  cool.     The  prince 
Is  right,  the  air  beneath  the  roof  is  hot, 
Sultry,  fearful,  fearful. — Bang  lights,  more  lights! 
[The  ladies  attended  lose  themselves  in  the  next  grove.] 

Pher.  Who  leads  us  to  the  coolest  spot  ?    A  breeze, 
A  breeze  is  worth  a  million  at  this  hour. 
Where  are  your  basins,  -ZEsop  ?    Lead  us  where 
Some  waters  flow.    I  own  that  in  mine  eyes 
The  happiest  of  creatures  is  the  fish. 

Arist.  Come  prince,  my  lords  come  on,  I  lead  you  where 
The  finny  denizens  in  cool  disport. 
Our  spacious  gardens  will  your  want  supply. — 
See  that  the  fish-ponds  be  by  torches- lit. —  [To  &sop  ivho  leaves. 
Where  is  the  king  ?    I  miss  the  king! 

Phab.  The  king, 

Sweet  prince,  within  these  pleasure-grounds  somewhere 
Sojourns,  he  having  found  the  walls  too  close 
Before  our  perspiration  forced  us  to 
Desert  the  wines.    Our  noise  will  draw  him  near. 

Hyr.  Dear  friends,  I  feel  my  limbs  are  weaker  than 
My  will.    Oppressive  age  is  mounted  on 
My  back,  to  whom  submitting  I  must  seek 
A  spot  to  rest  my  head.    Be  joyous,  friends, 
Without  my  useless  companv.    The  wine, 
The  humid  air  and  noise  assail  my  nerves. 
The  gracious  Lord  protect  you  all.     Good  night. 

All.  Good  night,  dear  sir.  \Some  kiss  his  hand. 

^Esop.   [u-ho  re-entered]   Come,  holy  sire,  I  will 
Thy  rooms  unlock  and  to  thy  comfort  see.  [Exit  with  Hyrcanus. 

Arist.  Now  after  me  who  longs  to  drink  the  breeze.  [Exeunt  all. 

SCENE  v. 

.4  place  in  the  garden. 
Enter  HEROD  and    SABION. 

Her.  That  she  no  friendly  feeling  nursed  for  us 
We  knew  it  well,  but  hnped  that  change  of  things 


38  HEROD. 

Would  in  her  bosom  work  an  equal  change. 
Her  son's  promotion  ought  to  sate  her  pride. 
What  could  we  do  we  have  not  done  for  her 
Whose  vows  and  smiles,  'tis  clear,  we  cannot  trust  ? 
Still  scheming1,  raging  'gainst  her  daughter's  lord! 
What  are  the  grievances  she  may  advauce  ? 

Sab    I  know  not  all,  save  that  she  fears  thou  art 
Not  true  to  her,  and  wouldst  exterminate 
Che  Asmonean  stock,  and  this  to  Egypt  she 
Impugning  wrote,  imploring  aid  against 
Thy  tameless  cruelty;  which  knowing  I 
Felt  bo  and  thee  of  her  doings  to  apprise, 
Expecting  it  might  some  calamity 
Avert,  and  clearly  prove  that  Sabion  is 
Not  hostile  to  thy  beneficial  sway. 
Some  idle  tougues,  I  know,  by  false  reports 
Upon  my  head  have  put  a  heavy  guilt 
Which  to  disprove  I  ever  sought  a  chance. 

Her.  Disprove  not  what  no  man  could  ever  prove, 
Or  Sabion  would  not  thus  to  Herod  speak. 
Our  father's  death  by  Malichus  was  planned, 
And  thou  art  guiltless  of  the  heinous  crime 
Avenged  by  us  on  the  assassin's  head. 
But  wilt  thou  truly  be  our  trusty  friend  ? 

Sab.  If  Herod  doubts  why  should  him  Sabion  serve 
Before  conviction  takes  suspicion's  place? 
I  will  be  neutral  in  this  land's  affair. 
The  hand  is  strong  that  yields  the  helm  of  state, 
And  time  will  show  that  Sabion  means  it  well. 

Her.  Thy  honored  age  and  wisdom  we  require 
And  thy  impatience  in  thy  favor  pleads. 
We  make  thee  partner  of  ou*  great  resolves, 
And  will,  henceforth,  behold  in  thee  a  friend 
With  all  the  claims  of  confidential  trust. 
Keep  us  informed  of  all  weighty  steps 

And  be  assured  we  bear  thee  in  our  mind. —  [Exit  Sabion. 

This  treacherous  move  thy  nature's  bent  betrays, 
And  Antipater's  voice  I  hear  exclaim  : 
"  That  murderous  knave  did  help  to  cut  me  off  !" 
I  make  thee  spy  before  to  hell  thy  ghost 
I  send. — That  Avoman  smells  my  purpose,  and 
The  Roman's  harlot  on  the  >  ile  I  hate! —         [Enter  Aristobulus. 
There  comes  the  bird  I  plumed  for  Pluto's  pit 
As  Druids  plume  their  beasts  for  slaughter  marked. — 
Alone,  my  boy,  without  a  girl  to  hug! 
In  search  of  whom  didst  thou  the  revellers  fly? 

Arist.  In  search  of  him  I  do  as  father  love.  [Kisses  Herod. 

Oh  dear,  Jonathan  loved  not  David  more 
Than  I  my  sister's  royal  consort  love. 
Thy  absence  tells  me  what  in  thee  I  have, 
And,  missing  thee,  I  felt  so  lonesome,  soft, 
And  overcome  of  indefinable  pangs 
That  weeping  only  could  relieve  my  heart. 
What  is  it,  dear,  that  makes  me  sad  to-night? 

Herod.  A  whim,  a  sentimental  whim,  my  boy. 
What  else?    Is  all  not  to  thy  liking  now?  [Taking  his  hand. 

t 


HEROD.  39 

Look  here,  my  boy,  thy  love  is  well  bestowed 
On  one  who  would  a  crown  set  on  thy  head. 

Arist.  Oh  no,  no  dear,  no  crown ;  I  would  I  wore 
The  mitre  not  which  weighs  me  down.    It  is 
An  awful  thing  to  be  a  minister 
Of  the  Most  High,  and  meditating  stand 
Betwixt  the  skies  and  man.    Remembering 
The  dreadful  One  to  whom  for  Israel 
I  prayed  and  thine  triumphal  rule,  methought, 
The  Sanctuary  was  ablaze  with  light 
Of  seraphim  my  fancy  eyed  around, 
— Celestial  sprights  our  prophets  often  see — 
I  trembling  stood  upon  the  altar's  ground, 
Scarce  heard  the  Levites'  song  nor  trumpet's  sound, 
Then  sank  and  prayed  upon  my  bended  knee. 

Herod.  Thy  mood,  my  darling  prince,  affects  my  heart 
And  is  no  temper  for  a  merry  feast. 
Come,  child,  and  let  no  heuseless  notion  take 
Possession  of  thy  unbeclouded  youth. 
Why,  why,  thou  art  the  cause  and  host  of  this 
Event,  and  wouldst  thy  guests  have  dance  with  thee 
And  weep  ?    These  things  go  ill  together,  dear. 
If  thou  a  longing  hast  to  see  me  weep, 
I  am  wrought  up  to  woman's  softness  at 
Thy  touch. — The  air  in  this  environment 
Appears  prophetic  or  the  gods  betray 
The  webs  invisible  of  mortal  brains.  [Aside 

Arist.  What  didst  thou  mutter  just  I  did  not  hear? 

Her.  I  muttered  at  the  heat  which  spares  no  king. 
Is  not  a  cooler  place  around  us  here? 

Arist.  Why,  yes,  my  dear,  as  cool  as  when  ths  heavens 
Their  blessed  showers  pour  on  earth.    Am  I 
Not  selfish  thus  thy  joyance  to  abate 
With  thoughts  unhealthy  as  the  vapor  of 
A  swampy  land  ?    Thou  dost  not  think  me  drunk  ? 

Her.  I  would  the  wine  had  spoken  what  thou  saidst. 
I  know  not  why  thy  humor  works  on  me 

Arist.  I  emptied  many  a  goblet  to  thy  health 
But  could  the  morbid  sentiments  not  force 
Out  of  my  breast. 

Her.  I  banish  them  straightway. 

Come  let  us  wager.    He  who  fleeter  runs 
Shall  of  Judea  have  the  fleetest  steed 
As  price.    No  talk,  no  talk,  a  word,  a  bet ! 
I  swim  in  perspiration,  thou  will  win. 

Arist.  Agreed!  save  one  condition  I  impose. 

Her.  I  should  not  faster  run  than  thou  V 

Arist.  Not  let 

Me  winner  be  without  a  racing  test. 
We  start,  thou  fourteen  feet  ahead  of  me, 
And  if  I  touch  thee  with  my  outstretched  hand 
I  claim  the  steed. 

Her.  The  steed  be  thine  if  I 

Within  thy  touch  come  ere  we  reach  the  pond. 
But  knowest  thou  that  I  with  Bedouins  fought, 
Who  are  the  fleetest  of  the  desert's  tribes, 
Yet  ever  overtook  the  foe  I  chased  ? 


4:0  H  E  K  O  D  . 

Arist.     If  this  be  so,  then  loss  cannot  disgrace 
Me  should  I  lack  in  speed,  while  thy  defeat 
My  triumph  to  myself  would  mar.    I  would 
My  vanity  at  thy  expense  not  feed. 

Her.    1  risk  my  fame  in  this. — Well,  fourteen  feet? 

Arist.  Yec,  measure  fourteen  feet  and  then  we  start. 
[Herod  measures  fourteen  feet,  counting  one,  two,  three;    they 
run  toward  the  grove.] 

SCENE  VI. 

Before  a  fish-pond. 

PHEKOBAS  and,  the  guests  of  the  court.    Some  are  bathing  afar  ~ 
torches  burning. 

Pheroras.  Haste  on,  boys,  haste;  there  in  the  groves  undress; 
With  water  mix  you  wine-benumbed  heads. 
I  join  you  soon,  it  is  a  healthful  sport. — 
Undress,  undress,  I  see  them  yonder,  come. 

[Aside  to  Eurycles  who  withdraws. 

Enter  HEROD  closely  followed  by  ABISTOBXJIJTJS  ivho  overtakes  him- 

Arist.  The  steed,  Judea's  fleetest  steed  is  mine ! 

Pher.  It  must  be  fleet  indeed  thee  to  outrun, 
My  prince. — The  king  is  out  of  breath  and  beaten ! 

Her.  And  not  without  resistance,  to  be  sure. 
If  prince  Aristobulus  speed  in  all 
As  well  as  in  his  feet,  he'll  beat  the  world. 

Pher.  Look  how  the  boys  are  sporting  in  the  waves. 
There  seems  delight  to  bathe  in  torchlight's  gleam. 

Her.  I  am  disposed  to  partake  of  the  sport 
And  try  in  water  to  regain  what  I 
By  land  have  lost. — Who  is  that  fellow  there 
Who  like  a  seal  the  billows  cuts  in  twain? 

Pher.  It  is  the  Spartan  who  did  challenge  all 
To  match  his  quickness  in  the  swimming  art; 
He  bids  a  fortune  none  is  prone  to  get. 

Arist.  Were  it  a  fitting  wager  I  would  dare 
To  cope  with  him  in  skill,  but  would  not  with 
A  heathen  for  a  prize  engage.     With  one 
Of  you  I  gladly  would  the  pond  divide. 
And  either  forfeit  what  I  racing  won 
Or  double  it  should  victory  be  mine.  [Enter  ^Esop, 

Her.  Stood  I  not  beaten  thus  and  sweating  I 
Once  more  would  stake  my  reputation  and 
Another  steed.    But  now,  Pheroras,  thou 
The  challenge  take,  or  I  will  think  a  pike 
Can  more  accomplish  than  a  valiant  prince. 

Pher.  I  take  the  challenge,  prince. 

jflsop.  [to  Aristobulus]  My  lord,  my  prince, 

Night  is  no  time  for  such  a  risky  play. 
Good  princes,  for  your  sake  I  do  beseech, 
Postpone  the  competition,  'tis  too  late. 

Pher.  Shall  we  postpone  it  for  some  other  hour? 
I  fear  no  darkness  when  the  torches  burn. 

Arist.  I  go  ahead  if  thou  wilt  follow  me. 

Pher.  I  follow  thee,  although  I  lose  the  game.        |  They  leave. 


HEROD.  41 

Her.  [to  sEsop]  You  let  us  know  who  of  the  two  did  win. 
We  to  the  ladies  must  repair,  whom  we 
Ungallantly  too  long  forsook  to-night. 
Where  is  the  queen  and  mother  at  this  hour  ? 

jEsop.  They  from  the  night's  humidity  in  the 
Saloon  which  fronts  this  garden  refuge  sought,  • 

My  lord.     Shall  I  accompany  the  king  ? 

Her.  No  need  of  this;  the  path  is  known  to  us.      [Exit  Herod. 

jEsop.  Oh,  Lord  forgive  if  I  suspect  these  men 
Whose  outward  seldom  mirrors  what  they  are. — 
I  hear  them  plunge,  but  see  them  not;  my  sight 
Is  dim  and  torches  dazzle  me.    But  hark!       [Voices  heard  afar. 
Voices  and  laughter. — Sabion  is  not  there, 
Not  one  among  the  throng  on  whom  to  count 
Should  anything  the  darling  youth  befall. 

A  Voice,  [from  afar}  No  life  in  him !  he  sinks,  is  drowned — dead! 

jEsop.  What  was  it  ?    Dead !    Drowned !    The  echo  of 
My  voice  I  fear,  so  rings  the  bittern's  wail 
In  dead  of  night. — My  prince,  what  happened? — Lord! 

Pher.    [icho  enters  half  dressed]   Go,  run,  the  king,  the  queen, 

— call  doctors  here. — 
There  might  be  help  yet. — Run,  the  prince  is  drowned! 

jEsop.  Drowned,  the  prince !    What  prince,  the  high  priest,  no  ? 

Pher.  They  say  he  breathes  yet;  yonder  in  the  grove 
They  try  him  to  reanimate. — Be  gone ! 

jEsop.  Thou  gracious  Power,  Sovereign  of  the  skies, 
Thy  will  be  done,  but  I  am  loath  to  live. — 
My  prince,  my  gentle  prince,  oh  sacred  child! 
Ah,  ah,  ah,  drowned,  drowned,  drowned, — dead!  \Exit. 

Pher.  [enter  Phatatus  and  Eurycles]  That  pious  beast  annoys 

me  with  his  looks. 

That  godly  ass  perchance  may  smell  the  truth 
And  with  his  brays  upstir  the  kicking  herd. — 
You  did  your  duty,  boys,  but  it  behooves 
Us  to  misguide  suspicion  off  our  track. 
Come  let  us  overtake  that  howling  clown 
And  mix  our  wailing  with  his  assish  cries. 
That  patch  of  piety  defies  all  bribes, 
And  for  his  mistress  and  her  cub  would  die.  [Exeunt  all. 

SCENE  VII. 

A  saloon. 
The  kituj,  the  queen,  ALEXANDRA,  SALOME,  and  attendance. 

Herod.  Yes,  we  are  beaten,  ladies,  hoping  though 
It  will  your  measure  of  our  valor  not 
Affect.    We  did  our  best,  but* strove  in  vain. 
All  Greece  would  smile  to  see  a  high  priest  and 
A  monarch  run  a  race,  but  we  are  glad 
That  few  did  witness  our  ungraeed  defeat. 

Mart.  I  fear  the  king  was  willing  to  award 
The  prize  else  not  an  Arab  could  outwing 
My  lord.    I  am  not  sorry  Herod  lost 
The  game,  knowing  the  joy  the  steed  will  bring 
To  him. 


42  HEROD. 

Alex.  He  is  not  one  at  trifles  to 
Eejoice.    I  find  him  older  since  in  rank 
He  rose.     He  thinks  the  sacred  calling  more 
Than  he  deserves,  so  humble,  modest  is 
My  dearest  son.    Yet  lacks  he  not  in  nerve 
When  manly  enterprise  provokes,  and,  like 
His  glorious  ancestors,  could  calmly  face 
A  host  of  armed  foes,  but  is  a  lamb 

In  innocence  when  charmed  by  a  smile. —    [&sop  enters  weeping. 
Why,  .ZEsop,  weeping!    2Esop — thy  speech — thy  speech! — 

j&sop.  Thou  wilt  henceforth  the  tiger's  growl  prefer 
To  my  despair-impregnate  speech  to-day. — 
My  speech  is  death ! — death,  princess,  is  my  speech ! 
Ah,  ah,  ah,  drowned,  my  gentle  prince,  drowned — 

All.  [startled]  Who  drowned? 

Her.  What  prince?    How  drowned? 

Mari.  Speak  fool ! — 

JEsop.  [weeping]  Ah,  ah,  my  princess,  thy  son — drowned — dead. 

[To  Alexandra. 

Alex.  My  son!  my  boy,  my  high  priest,  drowned — dead! 
Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha ! — Go  to, 
Gray  devil — nay,  dear  .ZEsop — deny  it — ha ! 
My  son,  Aristobulus,  drowned,  dead? 

Enter  PHEBOBAS,  PHABATUS,  and  EUBYCLES. 

jlEsop.  [as  before]  Dead,  dead  thy  son — forever  dead — dead — 

dead. — 
They  saw  him,  they  know  it  all — dead,  forever  dead. — 

[Fearful  pause . 

Alex.  Thy  dark  decrees  are  fearful,  dreadful  Lord! 
Now  darken,  sun,  I  hate  to  see  thy  light ! 
My  boy,  my  boy,  my  son,  O,  O,  O!  mute, 
Forever  mute  thy  lips  that  ministered 
To-day  to  twenty  myriad  throbbing  hearts! — 
Oh  daughter,  daughter,  dead,  thy  brother  dead!    [To  Mariamne. 
My  heir,  my  darling  drowned  iu  the  flood 
And  all  is  blackness. — Oh  my  wits,  my  wits 
Are  turning! — Graces,  powers,  heavens,  where  is 
My  dearest,  sweetest,  gentlest,  godliest  child! — 

[Exit  Alexandra  followed  by  some  ladies. 
Mari.  [awaking  from  amazement]  Yea,  black  is  all,  the  skies, 

the  stars,  this  world 

Are  black. — Mourn.  Israel,  your  noblest  died! 
And  how,  and  how,  my  lord,  our  brother  drowned! 

Her.  My  consternation  holds  my  senses  bound; 
I  have  a  tongue  but  scarce  the  use  of  it. — 
Prince,  say  how  that  ungracious  blow  was  dealt 
To  us  by  fate. — How  did  our  high  priest  die?  \To  Pheroras. 

Pher.  We  laid  a  wager  to  traverse  the  pond 
And  I  was  beaten  by  his  faster  swee*p, 
But  while  exhausted  trying  to  re-cross 
He  was  provoked  to  show  his  diving  strength 
At  seeing  many  sound  the  fish-pond's  deep. 
He  plunging  straight  repeatedly  did  stay 
A  longer  pause  than  others  could  endure 
Beneath  the  water's  suffocating  load, 
Until  not  re-emerging,  seirch  was  made 


HEROD.  43 

For  him  who,  brought  to  sight,  was  lifeless,  pale 
And  cold.     All  efforts  to  revive  him  failed. 

Enter  DIOPHANTUS,  JOSEPH,  CORINTHCS  and  SARAMEI.LAS. 
Her.  It  is  a  verdict  passed  in  heaven's  height 
That  by  the  flood  onr  brother  should  depart. 
Our  heart  is  bleeding  with  the  wounds  of  woe 
We  cannot  utter  in  the  shape  of  words. 
In  deepest  mourning  shall  for  thirty  days 
Our  court  and  country  sorrow  for  their  priest, 
Who  shall  with  royal  honors  be  interred. 

[The//  ir/'t lnlrttir,  irhiii'  the  curtain  slowly  descends.     The  sound 
of  a  muffled  drum  is  heard.] 


ACT    III. 

SCENE  I. 

A  room  in  the  palace. 
Enter  ALEXANDRA,  in  mourning  and,  SABION. 

Alex.  The  news  is  old  to  me,  dear  friend,  that  they 
Did  long  my  son's  destruction  plan,  alas, 
And  carry  out  to  make  me  hopeless  here. 
And  now  the  black  assassin  orders  me 
To  wither  under  his  abhorrent  eye, 
Environed  by  a  pack  of  watchful  spies ! 
My  hopes,  my  hopes,  oh  Sabion,  buried  are 
With  him,  save  vengeance,  vengeance  burning  in 
My  soul  and  hurling  fever  heat  throughout 
My  nerves !    If  ever  thou  my  child  didst  love, 
Advise  how  that  outrageous  crime  could  be 
Avenged. — But  patience,  I  must  wait  my  time. 
Believe,  so  hot  in  me  is  vengeance  that 
The  fiend  I  hate  would  soon  my  venom  feel 
But  for  good  Cleopatra,  who  did  swear 
By  all  her  means  the  monster  to  undo 

Sab.  She  can  through  Antony  his  vitals  wound, 
And  cause  his  downfall  ere  he  is  aware. 
I  know  no  surer  means  to  strike  thy  foe, 
Who  hath  no  friend  except  his  menial  throng. 

Alex.  She  will  not  rest  her  head,  she  writes,  before 
That  Roman  calls  him  to  account. 

Sab.  And  should 

His  shrewdness  some  escape  devise,  what  then? 

Alex.  Then,  Sabion,  then — well,  what  wouldst  thou  begin 
With  all  my  blood-fermenting  wrongs  heating 
Thy  spirit  to  a  vengeful  pitch.     What  then ! 
I  hear  Aristobulus  cry-  Revenge! 

Sab.  Here  wisdom  ends  and  accident  must  guide. 
I  shoTild  woo  prudence  and  my  hour  await; 
The  chance  may  come  thy  thirsting  hate  to  quench; 
No  mortal  is  invulnerable  in 
The  lapse  of  time.— Or  is  within  thy  grasp 
A  weapon  to  revenge  the  guileful  deed  ? 


4:4  HEROD. 

Alex.  Hyrcanus  could  through  Malchus  undermine 
The  tyrant's  might,  could  I  to  action  him 
Arouse ;  but  his  is  not  a  temper  to 
Be  moved  to  a  resentful,  hot  degree, 
Although  I  know  his  eyes  are  opening  wide, 
And  he  the  foul  devices  of  his  pet 
Begins  to  penetrate.     He  speaks  not  much 
But  on  his  furrowed  brow  I  read  his  thoughts. 

Sab.  Would  Malchus  war  if  him  Hyrcanus  prayed  ? 

Alex.  I  doubt  not  this,  had  father  but  the  will 
To  ask;  for  hostile  is  Arabia  to 
The  tyrant's  rule.    At  all  events  he  would 
A  refuge  readily  accord  to  us, 
Whom  black  assassins  menace  at  this  court. 

Sab.  How  dost  thou  know  he  shares  not  in  thy  wish? 

Alex.  Because  I  know  he  wishes  naught  but  rest 
And  is  a  man  who  wounded  would  not  wound; 
Which  notwithstanding  I  unceasing  shall 
Him  with  entreaties  importune  until 
For  sake  of  peace  he  to  some  move  consects. 

Sab.  Hast  thou  a  trusty  person  to  dispatch 
With  what  he  might  be  prone  to  send  abroad  ? 
It  is  not  safe  to  place  transactions  of 
Such  import,  black  on  white,  in  any  hand, 
Unless  it  rather  torture's  rack  sustained 
Than  yield  the  purport  folded  in  its  trust. 

Alex.  Describe  thyself  not  whom  since  years  I  found 
A  man  high-minded  and  with  virtue  fraught. 
Thou  hast  my  secrets,  hast  my  love  withal; 
As  on  my  bosom  I  on  thine  rely, 
Our  purpose  being  to  effect  his  fall 
Who  mocks  our  faith  for  which  we  live  and  die.  [Exit. 

Sab.  'Tis  good  that  foreheads  are  not  made  of  glass 
Nor  thoughts  of  mettle  to  excite  the  eye, 
Else  would  this  world  a  dungeon  be  for  knaves 
To  whom  against  my  will  I  do  belong. 
The  devil  trains  me  for  Abaddon's  maw; 
He  gently  seized  upon  my  finger  first, 
The  wrist,  the  arm  he  playingly  secured; 
The  trunk  he  sneering  jerked  and  calls  it  his, 
And  now  the  soul  re-ists,  resists  in  vain.  [Exit  Sabion. 

SCENE  II. 

At  Hyrcanus'  House. 
Enter  HYRCANUS. 

Hyrcanus.  What  is  this  life?  what  bids  this  life? — A  dream, 
A  painful,  frightful  dream  with  phantoms  odd 
And  fleeting,  fleeting,  fleeting,  save  the  woes 
Which  have  substantial  weight  and  withering  force. 
Rule,  power — vanity  of  vanities! 
The  grea  ! — unfounded,  senseless  jealousy — 
The  great,  the  great,  what  have  the  great  but  great 
Calamities,  despair,  heartburnings  which  are 
To  them  in  humbler  cradles  rocked  unknown ! 
A  million  peasants  grow  old,  grow  white  with  age, 


HEROD.  45 

While  under  hundred  princes  ninety  are 

Cut  off  in  prime  of  youth,  or  so  pursued 

By  countless  fears  and  traps,  that  hunted  wolves 

To  them  are  creatures  tasting  bliss. — Who  dreams, 

In  lowly  cottage  born,  of  poison,  stabbing, 

Of  mutilation,  drowning,  and  what  not 

Of  treason  rank-besotted  courtlings  hatch ! — 

Distrust  or  trust  I  know  not  whom.     Upon 

His  head  whom  I  did  raise  the  guilt  is  put 

Of  that  atrocity  which  beats  me  down. — 

Could  Herod  thus  repay  what  I  for  him 

Have  done  ?    Thus  in  the  bud  my  hope  destroy, 

My  daughter's  son,  the  image  of  his  sires ! 

If  this  be  so,  if  I  conviction  get 

Of  this,  if  I  had  proofs! — Ha,  Phraates,  friends, 

Whose  warning  love  I  on  Euphrate's  banks 

Unheeding  gave  no  ear,  forgive,  good  men. 

Forgive,  if  I  by  age  untaught,  learn  truth 

Too  late!— Depravity,  though  hideous  thou 

In  all  thy  various,  shifting  shapes,  when  thee 

Ingiatitude  begets  Sheol's  abysms 

Rear  nothing  equal  to  thine  horrid  sight! — 

I  know  the  world  but  half  and  find  a  fool 

Could  wiser  deal  than  I  with  him  I  fledged. — 

Lo!  there  she  is,  all  sorrow,  black  and  tears. — [Alexandra  enters. 

My  daughter  brings  what  I  am  sated  with, 

For  no  addition  needs  my  boundless  grief 

Alex,  My  son  is  buried  unavenged,  my  lord, 
Should  he  unsorrowed  rot  within  the  dust? 
How  could  I  him  forget  in  whom  I  lived ! 

Hyr.  The  briny  flood  which  on  tby  cheek  descends 
Will  not  revive  him,  princess,  who  is  dead. 
Two  moons  their  faces  changed  since  we  the  last 
Obsequious  honors  him  with  royal  pomp 
Did  pay,  when  all  a  people  grieved  with  us 
And  with  our  anguish  mixed  their  loyal  tears. 
But  what  beginning  hath  must  have  an  end, 
And  to  our  mourning  we  should  likewise  set 
A  bound,  and  not  proceed  as  if  we  Heaven 
For  gross  injustice  blamed. 

Alex.  Then  Herod  did 

What  Heaven  bade  him  do.  in  slaying  scores 
Of  undefended  men.     If  such  be  God's 
Behests  then  place  assassins  straight  among 
The  just,  and  from  the  Decalogue  efface 
"  Thou  shalt  not  kill,"  since  murder  is  no  crime, 
But  meritorious  is  the  task  to  slay; 
Ah,  and  my  sweet  boy  was  murdered  by  God's  will ! 

Hyr.  Interpret  wiser,  daughter,  what  I  say. 
Thou  knowest  well  the  meaning  of  my  speech 
As  comfort  given  to  thy  bleeding  heart. 
Ah,  what  can  I,  an  old  man  thus  betrayed, 
Do  more  for  thee  than  share  thy  deep  distress ! 

Alex.  I  would  to  Heaven  thou  couldst  my  vengeance  share ! 

/////.  A  high  priest  once  should  I  resentment  oreed? 

Alex.  Doth  not  Jehovah  with  resentful  wrath 


46  HEROD. 

The  wicked  smite  who  break  the  sacred  Law  ? 
And  is  not  life  worth  having  on  thy  part? 

Hyr.  What  is  worth  having  in  a  time  like  this 
When  fell  corruption  barefaced  mocks  the  sun 
And  blushing  virtue  must  retired  groan? 
Behold,  behold  how  few  they  are  who  with 
The  living  word  of  the  great  God  comply! 
Yea,  from  their  sole  unto  their  head  there  is 
No  healthy  spot  but  wounds  and  bruises 
And  putrifying  sores,  and  where  the  voice, 
The  prophet  to  cry  on  their  dealings — Woe ! 
As  are  the  seasons  in  their  fruitfulness 
Unlike,  so  are  the  times  unequal  in 
Their  casts  of  men,  some  bringing  forth  a  group 
Of  demigods,  who  with  their  spirit's  breeze 
Rejuvenate  the  unaspiring  world 
And  make  creation  of  her  sovereign  boast; 
Some  generating  such  a  dwarfish  kind 
As  would  in  dread  before  a  pigmy  bow 
Who  daring  tries  what  sacred  is  profane! 
This  dwarfish  kind  is  ruling  in  this  age 
So  poor  in  men,  in  tyrant  lords  so  rich! 

Alex.  Alas,  when  man  poor  woman's  weapon  grasps. 
And,  impotent  of  action,  sighs  and  groans, 
Then  to  the  distaff  whip  that  craven  lord 
Who  arrogantly  claims  the  earth  for  him 
And  thinks  his  mate  a  creature  for  his  whims! 
Who  should  frail  woman  with  her  suckling  babes 
Defend?  her  flagrant  wrongs  who  should  avenge? 
When  did  faint-heartedness  itself  accuse! 
The  times!    The  ages ! — Granted  that  the  tide 
Of  genius  sweeps  not  unremittingly 
Athwart  this  gloom-enwrapped  world,  when  was 
An  age,  a  throne  usurped  by  a  slave, 
A  reckless  murderer,  whose  gory  hand 
Defiles  what  by  the  flight  of  years,  the  blood 
Of  saintly  martyrs  consecrated  is 
To  great  Judea's  heaven-guarded  tribes, 
With  full  acquiescence  of  the  rightful  head 
To  whom  the  millions  for  deliverance  look! 
Art  thou  an  heir  of  Mattathias'  line? 

Hyr.  I  hear  thy  mother  speak  in  thee,  proud  child. 
She,  too,  would  have  me  fight,  fight,  fight!— Well,  well,. 
Now  lead  the  way,  my  mouth-prompt  heroine, 
And  these  stiff  arms  shall  their  dried  sinews  ply 
Thy  vengeance  to  appease! — Whom  shall  I  stab? 
Oh,  there  is  yet  force  in  this  my  trembling  grip 
To  pieice  a  sleeper's  undefended  breast 
And  with  assassin's  fame  this  life  depart ! 

Alex.  Why  reason  when  to  reason  age  and  love 
Are  deaf  ?    Now  all  is  void  and  all  is  said 
And  Herod's  grace  will  soon  my  sorrows  end. 

Hyr.  Say  plainly  what  with  dignity  I  could 
For  thee  accomplish  and  it  shall  be  done. 

Alex.  Thou  hast  a  friend  in  Malchus,  why  not  save 
Thyself  and  me  by  flying  thither  where 
Uumenaced  we  may  end  our  days  in  peace. 


HEROD.  47 

Hyr.  It  is  thy  fancy  magnifying  things; 
There  is  no  token  of  a  menace  here. 

Alex.  Wait  not  for  thunder,  fly  the  lightning's  dart 
Before  the  skies  gr  w  dim,  premonishment 
And  caution  unavailing  prove.    The  eyes 
Of  hundred  servile  courtlings  rest  on  us; 
They  shadow  every  step,  report  each  word 
With  glossy  tongue,  impugning  mien  and  look, 
Of  credit  sure  by  one  who  seeks  pretense. 

Hyr.  Cannot  Mariamne  sound  his  dark  intents 
And  us  enlighten  of  his  latent  schemes? 

Alex.  Speak  not  of  her  who  craves  her  brother's  fate, 
And  sees  a  future  drear  as  night  and  black. 
His  flippant  love  confessions  ever  flow; 
To  her  belonged  his  heart,  his  throne,  his  all; 
The  heavens  were  too  poor  to  buy  her  love. 
So  pleading,  sighing,  vowing  he  persists 
Affirming  he  was  true  'to  her,  not  less 
To  us,  to  thee,  myself;  which  is  as  false 
As  was  his  love  to  my  bemourned  son. 

Hyr.  Daughter,  here  swear  by  the  tremendous  God 
Who  with  His  breath  can  melt  this  massive  earth, 
And  perjury  the  soul's  eternal  curse 
Pronounced,  swear  that  no  doubt  hath  root  in  thee 
About  thy  offspring's  preconcerted  death! 

Alex.  May  Heaven  never  pardon  my  poor  soul 
If  I  in  Herod's  foul  contrivance  doubt, 
Or  his  foreknowledge  of  thy  grandchild's  death! 
Through  Sabion  I  am  certain  that  my  heir 
A  terror  to  the  tyrant's  conscience  seemed. 

Hyr.  Provide  a  man,  I  to  Arabia  write, 
And  be  prepared  for  our  impending  flight.  [Exit  Hyrcamis. 

Alex.  This  message  I  in  Sabion's  hands  shall  place, 
Although  from  Antony  I  hope  to  hear 
Whom  Cleopatra  promised  to  arouse 
Against  the  ruthless  murderer  of  my  child. 
But  should  she  fail  Arabia  I  prefer 
To  this  confinement  in  a  monster's  den 
Where,  with  a  rageous  hatred  in  the  soul, 
I  still  must  smile,  the  gall  devouring  which 
Envenoms  every  atom  in  my  blood.  [Exit  Alexandra. 

SCENE    III. 

' A  room  at  Herod's. 
Enter  HEROD  and  SALOME. 

Herod.  I  should  believe  thee  that  she  loves  me  not, 
And  this  upon  thy  word  who  lovest  not  her. — 
She  loves  me  not !—  Sister  the  jaws  of  hell 
Are  gaping  at  this  sound!— She  loves  me  not — 
What  proofs  are  there  to  make  thy  censure  good? 

Sal.  Forget,  dear  brother,  what  in  haste  I  said 
Solicitous  of  knowing  that  love  returned 
Thou  dost  exuberantly  nurse  for  her. 
I  may  her  wrong,  perchance,  whom  by  the  by, 
I  love  but  less  than  thee,  but  never  hate 
The  dearest  of  thy  choice.    She  being  of 


48  HEROD, 

Thyself  a  part  my  enmity  to  her 
Would  half  be  thine. 

Her.  She  is  a  part  of  me; 

I  feel  it,  scent  it,  see  it,  hear  it,  dream 
It,  live  on  it.    Mariamne  is  my  soul 
Who  ebbing  leaves  the  body  lifeless,  cold. — 
But  say,  how  did  suspicion  thy  good  sense 
Invade  ?    Didst  thou  of  late  her  ways  observe 
And  find  her  manners  liable  to  blame  ? 

Sal.  Since  she  her  likeness  sent  to  Rome — 

Her.  [interrupts]  To  Rome 

Her  likeness  sent — by  whom  ?    I  heard  not  this. 

Sal.  Did  she  not  tell  thee  that  through  Dellius  she 
To  Antony  her  likeness  sent? 

Her.  No,  no! 

Her  lip  did  never  utter  such  a  word 
To  me.    She  should  have  told  me  this — she  should! — 
Was  Dellius  cause  that  she  her  likeness  sent? 

Sal.  Which  doth  excuse  her  having  done  the  thing. 
The  Roman,  struck  with  her  excess  of  grace, 
Did  her  and  fair  Aristobulus — then 
Alive — deem  beings  of  celestial  mould 
And  wished  their  image  forwarded  to  Rome, 
To  Antony  who  is  his  bosom's  friend. 

Her.  It  throws  no  shade  upon  her  honesty, 
Save  that  she  never  told  me  aught  of  this. 

Sal.  Perhaps,  because  she  would  no  jealousy 
Upstir  in  thy  enamored  breast. 

Her.  [pensively]  That  was 

Not  right,  not  as  a  loving  wife  should  act. — 
But  thou,  Salome,  hadst  yet  more  to  say, 
I  think,  when  I  did  interrupt  thy  speech. — 
What  didst  thou  notice  since  her  likeness  went 
To  Rome? 

Sal.      Did  I  of  noting  speak? 

Her.  Thou  didst.— 

Speak  fearless,  I  command  thee,  speak !    It  is 
Thy  Herod's  doom  thou  must  confirm  or  free 
Him  from  the  agony  of  doubt. — Did  aught 
Mariamne  which  as  woman  thou  wouldst  blame? 
Didst  thou  not  say  Mariamne  loves  me  not? 

Sal.  I  do  retract  what  I  in  love  to  thee 
Have  said  unable  to  substantiate 
What  as  foundation  but  conjecture  has. 

Her.  And  thy  conjecture  might  not  groundless  be; 
Its  origin  and  nature  let  me  hear, 
And  how  it  took  posession  of  thy  mind. 

Sal.  My  king,  I  blush  to  show  a  weakness  I 
In  others  would  reproach.    I  am,  like  thee, 
Not  quite  unjealous  of  my  husband's  love 
I  which  Mariamne,  I  suspect,  is  deep. 

Her.  [amazed]  Ye  powers  who  in  Hades  rule — what  must 
I  hear! — Thy  Joseph  and  Mariamne,  is 
It  so?— 

Sal.  If  apprenension  leads  me  not  astray. — 
A  grave  offence  it  is  to  guess  such  things, 
I  know,  but  then  he  never  ceases  of 


HEROD.  49 

Her  wondrous  loveliness  to  speak,  and  her 
I  smiling  saw  on  him  with  queenly  grace 
When  me  she  treated  to  a  passing  leer. 

Her.  I  am  confounded!    What!    Thy  Joseph?    Why, 
I  trusted  him  the  most  of  all  who  serve  [Enter  messenger. 

Me  since  I  rule  this  land. — Who  is  that  man 
Who  comes?— Is  Antony  thy  lord? — 

Mess.  His  will 

Enjoined  me  to  let  thy  majesty 
This  have  which  I  from  Laodicea  bring, 
And  ask  reply. 

Her.  [takes  the  papers]  We  will  attend  to  thee. 

[Exit  mensengtr. 

I  break  the  seal  and  feel  the  news  is  grave. 
My  heart  is  throbbing  faster  than  it  should. 
[Reads]  "Impatient  justice  bids  Judea's  king 
To  hasten  hither  where  a  court  shall  try 
The  weight  of  guilt  put  on  his  royal  head. 
Our  eagerness  to  justify  our  friend 
And  save  his  reputation  now  obscured 
Requires  Herod  to  be  prompt  in  speed. 

Antony." 

I  like  this  courtesy  not  much,  and  see 
My  foes  are  busy  to  promote  my  fall, 
Above  all  Alexandra,  who  the  worst 
Is  of  the  baneful  crew.— I  must  to  him 
Who  may  as  murderer  arraign  me  and 
Abridge  my  days,  and  she  1  worship  will 
Perchance  my  death  salute  and  with  thy  fox 
Divide  her  fair,  lascivious  self  and  bed!— 
Salome,  Salome,  what  furious  tempest  did 
Thy  hint  within  my  inmost  soul  conjure ! — 
She  loves  me  not! — My  throne  I  gave  could  I 
Her  bosom's  hidden  longings  penetrate! 
But  hold ! — I  must  to  Laodicea  go 
And  will  thy  husband  make  her  trusty  knight 
Who  should  her  shiy — such  will  be  my  command- 
In  case  convicted  ol  my  guilt  I  fall. 
This  will  them  closer  bring  and  give  thee  chance 
To  find  if  thy  conjecture  hath  a  ground. — 
I  shudder  at  the  thought  that  we,  perhaps. 
Thy  Joseph  and  my  sweet  Mariamne  wrong. 

Sal   Thine  is  but  part  of  my  profounder  fenr.      [Enter  Sabion. 

Her.  Be  still,  we  shall  be  sure,  we  must  be  sure.— 
I  have  a  man,  a  subtile  Greek,  who  will 
Assist  thee  in  the  secret  search. — Go  send 

Me  Joseph  here  I  will  the  task  impose.—  [  E.rit  So /<,/>/»•. 

Come,  Sabion,  tell  us  what  is  good  and  new. 
Sab.  \producing  a  letter \  What  new  is  this  will  tel!,  but  \\helher 

this  r 

Be  good,  thy  majesty  may  juilge. 

Her.  {having  read  the  paper  \  His  head 

Must  off,  that  withered,  treacherous  priest! — I  am 
Thy  debtor,  Sabion.— Hi*,  a  tyrant  1! 
A  murderer!    He  would  to  Malchus  with 
His  daughter  fly.    I  was  ungrateful,  false! 
Corinthus,  ho!— The  traitor  dies  to-day!  [Enttr  Corinth**. 


50  H  E  B  O  D  . 

Select  some  warriors  from  our  valiant  guard 
And  bring  Hyrcamis  well  escorted  here! 

[Corinthus  leaves,  while  Herod  walks  up  and  down  excited. 

Sab.  My  lord,  I  would  not  people  knew  I  played 
This  game  which  out  of  loyalty  to  thee 
I  undertook.    The  punishment  thou  on 
Hyrcanus  wouldst  inflict  is,  in  my  view, 
Severe,  and  first  consider  what  such  step 
Involves. 

Her.     It  is  considered  well  and  weighed. 

/Sab.  It  will  unfit  me  for  thy  further  use 
And  I  henceforth  will  be  the  butt  of  scorn . 

Her.  Thou  must  withdraw,  while  we  the  traitor  question, 
The  rest  we  stifle  under  us. — Withdraw; 
Is  Herod's  friendship  not  enough  for  thee  ? 

Sab.  With  all  I  can  this  friendship  I  repay.  |  K.fit. 

Her.  The  priest  is  tired  of  his  waning  days 
And  I  am  tired  of  himself  and  brood, 
This  helps  us  all,  him  to  a  leap  into 
Hoar  Abraham's  lap;  her  to  another  chance 
Vile  Egypt  to  invoke;  and  me  it  rids 
Of  him,  the  last  aspirant  to  my  throne. — 

Enter  CORINTHUS  and  HYRCANUS  guarded. 
My  holy  sire,  supposing  thou  hadst  might 
How  wouldst  a  man  thoii  treat  who  eats  thy  bread, 
Professes  love  and  gratitude  to  thee 
Yet  by  his  acts  betrays  he  is  thy  foe? 

Hyr.  Treat  him  as  foe  who  would  as  foe  thee  treat 
For  he  who  strives  to  slay  thee  thou  mayst  slay. 
The  Law  is  on  his  side  who  life  defends. 

Her.  And  did  the  Law's  injunctions  not  thy  arm 
Unbrace  when  thou  befouling  didst  my  uamj 
To  Malchus  on  this  paper  send?  [  llainli u<j  n  j>/tj>er. 

Hyr.  [glancing  at  the  paper}  I  need 
Not  blushingly  confirm  what  I  have  said. 

Her.  Traitor! — Not  blush  to  say,  to  write  what  none 
Alive  can  truthfully  maintain!    Not  blush 
To  call  me  tyrant,  murderer! — Traitor! 

Hyr.  There  is  no  treason  in  this  instrument 
Unless  to  speak  plain  truth  is  treason  in 
Thy  time  of  rule;  for  what  I  said  is  true, 
As  true  as  thou  art  more  thine  foe  than  I. 

Her.  Perfideous,  slanderous  tongue! — Away  with  him 
And  let,  before  an  hour,  me  see  his  head ! 

Hyr.  Ungrateful,  vindictive,  and  reckless  king! 
So  many  guiltless  heads  by  thee  did  fall, 
But  none  so  innocent  and  true  as  I 
And  the  dear  youth  whose  blood  is  on  thy  head.  — 
I  am  no  traitor,  Heaven  knows  it  well, 
But  gave  thee  all  what  I  by  right  possessed. 
Nor  did  I  envy  thy  exalted  state 
Decreed  to  thee  by  unresisting  fate. 
•  My  grandchild  fell  by  thy  inhuman  plan 
And  so  I  fall,  no  traitor  but — a  man. 

\Hyrcanm,  (lorinthuR,  anil  flic  f/mmf.s 


HEROD.  51 

Her.    [after  a  pause]   The  last  of   stumbling-stones  ib  now 

removed, 

And  that  gray  fool  is  wise,  but  wise  too  late. — 
Still  where  am  I?    How  far  am  I?— Oh  love, 
What  is  the  substance  thou  art  made  of,  craze? 
A  hundred  thousand  maidens  I  can  have 
And,  like  Ahasverus,  the  fairest  choose, 
Or  have  a  dozen  to  beguile  my  time, 
But  vain  is  reason,  thought,  resolve!    I  love 
Mariamne  and — she  loves  me  not. — With  Joseph! — 
A  host  of  goblins  whisper  it  at  night — 

With  Joseph! — There  he  is,  I  must  be  cool. —          [Enter  Joseph. 
Thou  comest  in  time;  I  think  of  thee. — I  am 
Ill-tempered,  Joseph— treason — he  must  bleed! — 

Jos.  I  pity  him  who  thus  the  king  hath  moved. 
Who  is  the  luckless  fallen  in  thy  grace? 

Her.  I  am  too  sullen,  ask  me  not  too  much, 
But  hear  wherein  thou  canst  thy  merits  raise. — 
I  must  be  gone,  to  Antony  I  must; 
Some  state  affairs  of  grave  importance  call 
Me  hence.    Pheroras  will  the  helm  of  state 
Direct,  while  thee  I  guardian  make  of  what 
Is  dearest  in  this  world  to  me. 

Jos.  And  I, 

My  lord,  shall  guard  it  with  the  dragon's  eye 
To  whom  Metes  did  his  fleece  entrust. 

Her.  Thou  hast  a  notion  what  the  treasure  is  ? 

Jos.  Not  in  the  least,  but  be  it  what  it  may 
I  for  its  safety  answer  with  "my  life. 

Her.  That  is  a  venture,  man ;  suppose  I  made 
Thee  of  a  woman's  virtue  guard,  would  all 
The  eyes  of  Argus  be  sufficient  watch  ? 

Jos.  If  there  be  virtue  in  a  woman's  breast 
She  wants  no  guardian  to  maintain  it  pure. 

Her.  But  where  the  woman  find,  thou  meanst  to  say, 
Who  hath  a  virtue  stainless  in  her  breast  V 

Jos.  I  mean  not  so,  indeed;  the  king  who  claims 
That  thousand  women  furnish  not  one  whole 
Did  sure  no  justice  do  the  tender  sex. 
I  nor  my  mother  would  nor  wife  insult 
By  rating  lightly  their  devotion's  worth. 

Her.  How  high  wouldst  thou  Mariamne's  virtue  rate? 

Jos.  As  high,  my  lord,  as  any  virtuous  queen's 
The  story  praises  as  devoted,  pure. 
Above  temptation  stands  our  beauteous  queen. 

Her.  No  Antony  or  Caesar  could  her  win  ? 

Jus.  I  dare  maintain  she  could  a  world  contempt, 
And  more  than  tliis  those  potentates  have  not. 

Her.  Thou  art  an  idolizer  of  my  queen. — 

Jos.  If  all  the  idols  were  as  fair  as  she 
Then  would  Jehovah's  jealousy  be  vain. — 
The  queen  as  many  votaries  commands 
As  beaxity,  grace  and  virtue  ever  did. 

Her.  It  is  a  danger  to  be  thus  adored; 
How  easy  may  such  consciousness  entice! — 
But  let  hair-splitting  theories  and  phrase; 
The  word  is  pliant  on  the  pliant  lip. — 


52  HEROD. 

I  said  I  must  to  Antony,  and  thee 

I  charge  to  be  the  queen's  auspicious  guard. 

Jus.  j  surprised  \  Define  my  duty  and  be  sure  'tis  done. — 
I  hear  the  charge  but  fail  to  catch  the  sense. 

Her.  The  definition  hear  and  mark  it  well. — 
She  is  a  woman,  mark,  and  wants  a  man 
Beguiling  her  monotonous  hours  by  speech 
And  gentle  intercourse  as  doth  befit 
A  queen. — She  is  a  woman  tender,  sweet, 
Affectionate,  and  wondrous  soft,  perchance 
Solicitous  about  her  husband's  weal 
Who  shall  be  thus  afar; — she  wants  a  friend 
If  she  must  sigh  to  sigh  with  her,  if  she 
Must  weep  to  weep  with  her. — Is  this  not  clear. — 
She  is  a  woman  loving  company. — 
Propitious  powers,  I  am  sorely  tried! 

Jos.  What  grim  calamity  impending  frowns 
Which  clouds  the  humor  of  my  lord,  the  king? 

Her.  Ask  not,  I  am  betrayed,  by  friend  and  foe 
Betrayed,  my  life  hangs  on  a  thread  and  if 
I  die,  if  never  I  return,  my  queen, 
My  wife — without  her  love  I  scorn  the  b^iss 
Of  all  the  skies!— To  know  M  iriamne  in 
Another's  arms—  Joseph,  if  I  must  die-  - 
Now  hear  what  I  command — if  I  must  die — 
Mariamne  must  not  live! — Why  art  thou  pale? 
Art  sorry  for  the  queen  ? 

Jos.    '  My  lord,  the  queen ! 

Her.  Yes,  yes,  the  queen,  thou  wouldst  my  testament 
Disdain  should  1  beheaded  sink,  thou  wouldst? — 

Jos.  Let  me  my  senses  gather  ere  I  speak. — 
Are  things  so  dtrk  that  such  must  be  our  theme  ? 

Her.  They  are  so  dark. — Now  answer,  for  my  time 
Is  short. 

Jos.  I  am  no  murderer,  my  lord, 
Hope  all  will  turn  out  brighter  in  the  run 
Of  hours;  would  rather  slay  myself  than  rob 
The  world  of  her  most  precious  jewel;  but  I 
Am  subject  to  thy  royal  will,  and  must 
In  all  comply  with  thy  behest.  [Enter  Pheroras, 

Her.  Well  said; 

No  more;  I  see  my  brother  come,  let  us 
Alone  and  bury  deep  what  I  have  spoken.  [Exit  Joseph. 

Pher.  He  wings  per  extra  post  to  Eden's  gates, 
The  naughty  priest;  I  saw  his  headless  frame. — 
The  throngs  are  fastly  crowding  every  street. 
The  tigress'  fury  sparkling  in  their  eyes; 
I  charged  the  guard  to  be  on  the  alert.  [Enter  PJiabatus. 

Her.  What  now  ? 

Phab.  A  bulky  mob  is  marching  toward 

The  palace  swearing  loud  and  clamoring 
Against  the  king,  and  asking  why  the  priest 
Was  slain.    I  never  saw  a  rage  like  theirs. 

Pher.  Shall  I  the  signal  give  which  moves  Ihe  troops? 

Her.  No  force  this  time.    Let  me  the  crowd  appease; 
My  explanation  may  perchance  suffice. 
Go  tell  them  I  will  straight  upon  the  wall 


HEROD.  53 

Appear  and  so  convince  them  that  they  will 
Be  on  my  side;  subdue  them  by  discourse. 

[To  Phabatus  who  goes. 
And  see  that  Sabion  be  among  the  mass. — 
This  hour  a  revolution  wrought  in  my 
Designs.    This  message  read  and  judge  if  we 
Have  cause  to  pet  the  vulgar  multitude. 

Pher.  [having  read  the  paper]  A  fateful  document  it  is.    Thou 

art 

Accused  and  heavily.    I  read  betwixt 
The  lines  that  Cleopatra  moves  the  wheel 
And  he  is  earnest  whom  she  holds  in  chains. — 
Thou  wilt  proceed  to  him? 

Her.  I  will!— I  must! 

There  is  no  jesting  with  that  Roman's  will! — 
And  thou  art  sovereign  while  I  am  away. 
Hold  tight  the  reins  of  state,  but  curb,  till  I 
Retuin,  the  zeal  of  over-hasty  friends. 
With  moderation  use,  should  force  be  found 
Imperative,  thy  telling  might.    Pardon 
The  weak  and  cringing  populace,  but  on 
The  leaders  heavy  punishment  inflict. — 

Enter  DIOPHANTUS;  cries  of  a  crowd  are  heard. 
The  crowd  is  wild;  did  not  Phabatus  speak? 

Dio.  My  lord,  they  listen  not  and  cry  "The  king! 
Let  Herod  speak! "    And  every  second  swells 
The  furious  mob. — There  is  no  time  to  lose. 

Her.  We  are  not  humored  to  apply  the  steel, 
Instead  of  which  this  time  we  use  the  word.  [Exeunt  all. 

SCENE    IV. 

Before  the  gate  of  the  court. 
A  crowd  besieging  it.    PHABATUS  upon  the  wall. 

Phab.  I  can  no  explanation  give  until 
You  give  attention  to  the  facts  I  state. 
I  speak  the  truth;  or  doubt  you  what  I  say? 

A  Cit.  Believe  him  not,  believe  him  not,  he  speaks 
Not  what  he  thinks;  he  speaks  not  what  is  true, 

Another  Cit.  The  king,  the  king!    We  want  no  courtling's  oath; 
We  want  to  hear  the  king  himself  explain. 
Why  was  Hyrcanus  killed,  a  high  priest  slain? 

Many  Voices.  Why  was  Hyrcanus  killed?    The  king  shall  say! 

A   Voice.    Break  through  the    gates,  down   with  the  guard! 
Break  in!  [Herod  and  train  appear  on  the  wall. 

A  Cit.   Now  there  is  Herod;  silence,  hear  him!    He  looks 
On  us  and  smiles.     He  waves  his  hand;  be  still! 

Her.  My  fellow-countrymen  and  loyal  friends. — 

A  Cit.  He  says  we  are  his  fellow-countrymen 
And  loyal  friends. 

A  Voice.  Keep  still,  thou  babbling  jack! 

Her.  My  fellow-countrymen  and  loyal  friends, 
To  show  the  rate  at  which  I  set  your  love 
I  stand  here  ready  to  defend  myself 
Against  the  fools  who  say  that  Herod  did 
Hyrcanus  slay.    I  slew  him  not,  he  slew 


54  H  E  E  O  D  . 

Himself  by  forcing  me  to  strive  in  self- 

Defense,  which  is,  according  to  our  Law, 

No  crime,  but  sacred  duty  on  oar  part. 

Where  is  a  man  who  loving  wife  and  child 

And  being  threatened  by  a  treacherous  foe 

Would  unconcerned  thus  his  life  expose 

And  not  retort  the  meditated  stroke  ? 

Is  there  one  here  who  would  his  foe  not  wreck  ? 

I  hear  no  voice,  that  is  I  hear  no  lie. 

No  man  would  lose  his  life  without  defense. 

And  now  decide,  suppose  you  had  a  friend 

Possessing  all  the  love  your  hearts  can  give, 

Dividing  all  your  wealth  and  plans  with  you, 

And  you  discovered  him  in  league  with  one 

Who  is  the  deadliest  of  your  bitter  foes, 

Would  you  not  reckon  him  a  traitorous  heart  ? 

Who  says  he  would  not,  says  a  shameful  lie. — 

Such  is  the  nature  of  my  case.    You  think 

Hyrcanus  was  an  old,  good  man;  I  thought 

Like  you  until  this  fatal  paper— which 

You  all  may  read — convinced  me  he  was  not ; 

For  Malchus  of  Arabia  is  my  foe 

With  whom  this  paper  proves  him  leagued  against 

Myself  and  land — hear  you — against  your  land! 

Against  this  country  did  Hyrcanus  plot, 

His  hand  outlined  the  scheme  here  black  on  white. 

If  to  destroy  a  traitor  be  a  crime 

Then  prove  it  to  a  court  I  shall  appoint. 

[Exeunt  Herod  and  train. 

A  Oit.  Who  would  believe  it  of  the  holy  man, 
And  yet  the  king  doth  say  he  can  it  prove.  [Enter  Sabion* 

Another  Cit.  He  says  he  had  it  written  black  on  white. — 
Thou,  Sabion,  tell  us  whether  all  be  true. 

Sab.  I  knew  beforehand  you  would  ask  me  this, 
But  spare  the  answer  me  which  is  too  sad. 
A  friend  of  mine  he  was — Heaven  pardon  him ! 

A  Voice.  Then  go  we  hence,  the  king  has  told  the  truth! 

A  Cit.  [shaking  his  head]  I  have  my  thoughts  and  others  have- 

them  too. 

To  say  and  unsay,  he  said,  I  said,  we 
Said,  well,  Hyrcanus  something  had  to  say 
As  well,  but  he  is  mute  and  slain  untried, 
This  pinches  me. — To  slay  a  man  untried! 
Why,  blockheads  are  they  who  believe  his  guilt. 

[He  leaves  muttering  some  words;  the  others  follow  him* 

SCENE  v. 

Herod's  bedchamber. 
MARIAMNE  on  a  divan,  he  kneeling  before  her. 

Herod.  No,  waste  these  pearls  not,  goddess,  rolling  from 
Thy  star-outsparkling  eyes!    This  precious  flood 
The  gods  make  jealous  of  Hyrcanus'  death 
Who  lives  in  thee  a  thousand  thousand  lives! 
He  is  not  dead  for  whom  a  seraph  weeps. 


HKKOL).  55 

Mori.  He  is,  alas!  and  sees  the  sun  no  more! 
The  dear  benignant,  hoary,  sacred  head 
To  whom  the  savage  Parthian  bowed  in  awe 
Thus  fallen  is  forever,  buried,  dead; 
By  thee,  whom  he  did  raise,  did  love,  did  back 
In  what  thy  interest  required,  slain, 
Beheaded  like  a  culprit  guilty  of 
Unheard-of  crimes! — Hyrcaniis,  no!  there  is 
No  spot  on  thy  illustrious  honored  name! 
He  traitor! — King,  thou  couldst  as  well  the  sun 
Of  giving  birth  to  night  accuse  because 
Of  shades  through  his  departure  dominant. 
He  called  thee  tyrant,  murderer,  which  to 
Disprove  thou  both  these  qualities  on  him 
Didst  grossly  test! — Who  would  a  court  not  rly 
Where  all  the  vices  find  a  genial  home? 
Treason  to  save  one's  life!    No,  treason  in 
Thy  judgment,  is  to  be  an  Asmonean! 

Her.  {rising}  Celestial  shrew,  yea,  right  in  one  respect 
Is  thy  unfounded,  strange  accuse.     In  thee, 
Proud  Asmonean,  it  looks  like  treason  thus 
To  hold  my  angled  heart  and  spurn  my  love. — 
Aye,  torture,  sting  degenerate  manhood  in 
Thy  too  devoted,  too  uxorious  fool! 
Mariamne  not  but  Herod  of  us  two 
The  woman's  garb  should  wear,  and  thou,  untamed, 
Inexorable  as  thou  art,  unmoved, 
A  coat  of  mail  shouldst  thy  habiliment  make. 
Till  now,  sweet  madam,  what  of  Herod  thou 
Hast  seen  was  not  that  Herod  dreaded  by 
The  desert's  warlike  hordes.    I  can  a  shape, 
A  face,  a  frown,  an  eye  so  horrible 
Assume  that  Satan  in  his  fiendish  ire 
Less  dreadful  is  to  mortal  gaze  than  I  ! — 
But  Heaven,  this  fairy  makes  a  fawn  of  me, 
And  every  effort  to  regain  my  self 
Proves  more  and  more  I  am  a  fettered  slave ! 
Did  Lilith  not  to  thee  her  charm  impart 
That  chains  the  youth  and  wringing  rives  his  heart? 
That  makes  him  sigh  and  burn  with  loving  rage 
Who  vainly  seeks  nepenthe  his  wounds  to  assuage! 

Mart.  I  used  no  potions  to  unman  thy  nerves 
Nor  any  charm  to  capture  thus  thy  heart. 

Her.  No  magic  draughts,  the  witchcraft  lies  in  thee. 
Enchantress,  whose  resistless  eye  a  fire 
Drives  through  the  veins  so  violent  and  hot 
That  Lethe's  wave,  adjoining  it,  would  boil. — 
Mariamne,  by  all  those  powers  who  the  skies    • 
Control,  by  the  eradiations  of 
The  lucent  orbs,  I  swear  I  am  unmanned, 
Undone,  if  I  to  Antony  proceed 
With  doubt  oppressing  me  about  thy  love! 
Say  frankly,  woman,  if  I  ought  to  strive 
For  love's  "delights  I  yet  may  taste  alive; 
If  not,  my  queen,  I  will  resign  my  breath 
And  seek  my  peace  in  rayle^s,  hopeless  death ! 


56  HEROD. 

Mar.  [rising]  Our  infants  wear  thy  image,  king;  I  see 
They  love  their  father  whom  I  should  not  hate; 
Till  I  am  down  with  whelming  misery 
I  am  resolved  to  face  my  cruel  fate! 
The  dear  are  gone  who  made  my  life  so  sweet, 
My  last  of  sires  with  Hyrcanus  died; 
They  are  in  Heaven  where  the  pious  meet 
Who  vile  temptation  here  beneath  defied. 
Oh,  could  I  hope  the  high  priests  to  embrace 
In  yonder  heights  where  youth  doth  never  fade, 
To 'see  my  brother  with  his  beaming  face 
In  garb  angelic  with  the  saints  parade, 
I  should  be  tempted  this  my  heart  now  broke 
With  overpowering  woes,  soul-wringing  sighs 
To  open  by  a  steel's  well-pointed  stroke 
And  with  my  angels  weep  in  blissful  skies. — 
But  I  am  bound  my  earthly  course  to  run, 
The  mortal's  sorrows  feel  until  my  end; 
For  He  who  kindled  the  enkindling  sun 
Forbids  frail  man  to  fall  by  his  own  hand. 
I  live  and  bear  resigned  my  heavy  lot, — 
Go,  king,  depart,  Marianme  hates  thee  not. 

Her.  [embracing  her]  So  much  is  little  yet  it  bids  me  live! 

[The  curtain  decends,  tvhile  lie  holds  her  embraced. 


ACT    IV. 

SCENE  I. 

A  room  at  Salome's 
Enter  ETTKYCLES. 

Eurycles.  A  jest  is  worth  a  jest  and  for  the  sport 
I  in  Salome's  bed  enjoy  I  can 
Afford  to  draw  in  her  behalf  on  my 
Unquestioned  honesty,  and,  having  made 
Of  Herod's  sister  a  debauching  drab 
Indeed,  I  should,  this  drab  to  please,  by  some 
Contrivance  blast  the  reputation  of 
His  virtuous  queen.     Why  Joseph  loathe  and  me 
Adore  here  Satyr  had  his  fun,  if  fun 
In  woman's  inconsistency  there  be. 
I  am  as  sure  of  Joseph's  innocence, 
As  sure  that  fair  Mariamne  has  no  thought 
Of  guilt,  as  I  of  my  adultry  have 
No  doubt.    But  then  the  king  commanded  her 
To  serve,  and  she  hath  taught  me  how,  and  I 
Have  told  her,  ay,  and  cuckolded  her  fop 
Who  dreams  not  that  he  gets  his  portion  from 
My  saintship  second-hand. — Till  midnight  I 
Till  morn  the  dupe;  such  is  our  program  since 
The  king  is  off. — Lo!  there  the  hornet!  sage.- --         \Enter  Joseph. 
My  best,  sincere  good  morrow,  honored  sir. 


HEROD.  57 

Jos.  Good  moriow,  wakeful  friend.    Please  tell  my  wife, 
Whom  I  have  left  asleep,  that  I  must  on 
The  queen  wait  ere  the  king  arrives.     She  knows 
Not  yet  that  Herod  comes  to-day  against 
The  minor  whispered  of  his  fall.    He  comes 
Sustained  in  all  his  dealings  here,  and  my 
Surprise  I  with  the  queen  divide. 

Eury.  She  will 

Delighted  be  such  tidings  to  receive. 
She  is  mock-widow  now  two  months  or  so. 

Jos.  She  will,  she  will,  I  have  no  doubt  she  will! 
Six  weeks  are  past  since  he  hath  left  the  queen 
And  this  is  long  for  hearts  to  be  apart. 

Eury.  My  wife  and  self  could  stand  it  thrice  that  time. 
But  we  are  Greeks,  the  Hebrews  being  strict 
And  thinking  guilt  what  Spartans  deem  but  sport. 
No  Moses  could  for  Hellenes  legislate. 
Lycurgus'  code  permits  no  property 
To  be  the  one's  and  not  the  other's  good, 
And  woman's  beauty  he  did  part  make  of 
The  common  wealth.    My  wife  is  thine  and  thine 
Is  mine,  such  is  the  Spartan's  liberal  view. 

Jos.  In  vast  Judea  none  the  Grecian  ways 
Admires  more  than  Herod,  but  in  this, 
I  know  top  well  he  is  not  half  a  Greek. 
The  king  is  jealous  of  his  eunuchs'  eyes 
That  they,  like  his,  Mariamne's  graces  view, 
And  woe  to  him  on  whom  suspicion  fell 
Of  being  favored  by  the  beauteous  queen! 
This  to  no  angel  Herod  would  forgive. 

Eury.  I  rather,  then,  with  Cerberus  the  gate 
Of  hell  would  guard  than  watch  this  monarch's  wife. 
The  envious  gods,  when  Love  forsook  the  skies 
To  sweeten  here  the  mortal's  ruthful  lot, 
To  turn  her  bliss  into  a  plague  to  man, 
Of  all  the  fevers  made  a  phantom  black 
Which  haunts  and  maddens  him  who  loves  too  much ; 
This  fearful  spectre  Jealousy  they  called. 

Jo*.  He  made  me  warden  not  with  my  consent, 
But  he  shall  find  her  true  and  be  content 
If  what  for  him  she  feels  he  may  call  love. — 
I  am  a  parrot,  zounds.     The  queen  might  to 
The  groves  before  I  come.    The  siin  is  high. 
Farewell!— Forget  not  what  I  asked. — Adieu.  \E.rit. 

Eury.  I  see  not  why  I  should  this  person  wreck 
Who  treats  me  hospitably  in  this  house, 
Not  like  a  servant  which  I  feign  to  be, 
But  like  a  man  his  equal  every  inch 
And  what  have  I  against  the  sweetest  queen 
That  hates  the  plotter  who  her  kinsman  slew, 
And  shuns  my  harlot,  whom  I  neither  love  ? 
But  if  I  moralize  why  am  I  here 
Where  honest  men  are  out  of  vision  puffed  ? — 
I  see  her  near,  and  must  prepare  for  love.  [Enter  Salome. 

I  should  be  gallant  till  I  see  my  way. — 
Good  morrow,  princess, — what,  so  early  up? 


5  HEROD. 

Sal.  Ah,  false  adorer !  early  thus  for  thee  ? 

Eury.  Thou  must  not  misconstrue  my  anxious  love; 
For  hours  I  hang  about  that  entrance  there 
As  erring  pilgrim  gazing  at  the  East 
To  see  the  sun  illumine  his  dark  path; 
Yet  for  thy  dreamy  slumber  I  my  rest 
Would  give;  for,  though  I  suffer,  half  the  pain 
1=3  taken  when  I  know  thy  dreams  are  sweet. 
Oh  could  but  ever  I  repose  with  thee! 

Sal.  Thou  knowest  well  my  soul's  most  ardent  wish 
Is  in  thy  arms  to  dream,  but  not  until 
The  ground  is  clear  can  we  have  rest.    The  hour 
Is  pressing  and  our  future  on  thy  nerve 
Depends.    My  Greek  intrepidly  must  act, — 
Now  hear  the  scheme  I  during  night  devised : 
My  husband,  whom  I  hate  as  thee  I  love, 
A  secret  order  from  the  king  received 
To  slay  the  queen  should  he  be  slain  abroad. 
By  fine  suasion  I  did  prompt  him,  ere 
The  king  returns,  the  order  to  divulge 
To  her,  whose  fiery  temper  will  revolt 
Against  a  love  so  cruel  in  its  craze, 
Her  prudence  give  to  indignation  way; 
And  bitter  hatred  she  will  vent  on  him 
Whom  new  success  will  stimulate  to  pride, 
And  disappointment  drive  to  wild  extremes. 
This  moment  seizing  we  must  deal  the  blow, 
Affirming  straight  that  criminal  intercourse 
My  cuckold  and  the  queen  together  leagued, 
His  gross  betrayal  backing  our  accuse. 
This  daring  measure  will  our  foes  remove. 

Eury.  Will  words  suffice  to  test  such  heinous  guilt  ? 

Sal   Ay,  for  the  moment  they  will  surely  work. 
The  king's  decision  will  be  quick  and  sharp, 
And  what  is  done  he  never  can  undo 

Eury.  Their  death  alone  could  make  success  secure. 

Sal   Their  death  alone  can  calm  my  brother's  wrath 
Who  in  his  rage  did  never  try  to  think. — 
I  count  upon  the  temper  of  a  king. 

Eury,  And  I  my  life  on  thy  experience  set 
And  thy  directions  shall  my  compass  be. 
Command  when  it  is  time  to  act,  I  stand 
A  slave  to  thy  unhindered  will',  knowing 
Thou  wilt  for  much  not  sacrifice  my  heart. 

Sal.  [taken  his  hand]  One  moment  yet  let  us  in  soft  delight 
In  half-dusk  taste  the  pleasures  of  sweet  love. 
Come,  dearest  Greek,  have  thou  my  consort's  right; 
That  chamber  be  my  nest  and  I  thine  dove.  [Exeunt  both. 

SCENE  II. 

A  room  at  the  queeris. 
Enter  ALEXANDKA  and  MABIAMNE. 
Alex.  I  say,  the  time  is  come  for  us  to  fly; 
Pheroras  will  the  throne  ascend,  and  he 
Will  sweep  us  from  this  earthly  round,    The  grave 
Or  Egypt— choose  the  best  of  these. 


HER01). 

Mart.  My  babes, 

My  pretty  babes,  what  will  become  of  them! 

Alex.  Become  of  them!    They  will  be  men  and  may 
Be  kings  once  distant  from  this  land  of  woe. 
Had  with  my  son  I  tied  this  cursed  seat, 
I  would  not  helpless  thus  and  desolate 
My  child  bewail.    But  Heaven  dull'd  my  sense 
That  time;  and  now  I  pray  thee  let  us  fly! 

Mori.  We  trust  a  rumor  which  our  foes  perchance 
Have  spread  to  see  how  Herod's  death  would  us 
Affect  and  thus  our  disaffection  test. 
If  Herod  fall,  Mariamue  would  not  weep; 
I  never  loved  the  man  whom  now  I  loathe 
With  all  the  madness  of  a  tortured  heart. 
But  he  may  live  and  frustrate  our  attempt. 
We  should  await  what  Joseph  has  to  say. 

Alex.  We  should  our  lives  not  place  in  Joseph's  hand 
Whose  outward  shows  I  would  not  much  confide. 

Mari.  He  is  a  man  in  whom  I  faith  repose, 

Although  I  hate  the  female  he  calls  wife.  [Enter  Jodeph. 

He  comes !    Why  spoke  we  not  of  cheerful  days  ? — 
Thou  art  our  theme,  good  Joseph,  and  some  news 
Of  moment  we  expect  to  hear.     What  is 
The  rumor  worth  about  the  king's  return? 

Jos.  Who  told  the  queen  that  Herod  is  returning? 

Mari.  Is  he  returning?    And  that  whisper  hath 
Nor  hand  nor  foot?    Speak,  Joseph,  and  my  doubts 
Dispel. 

Jos.    I  think  that  minutes  will  thy  doubts 
Disperse,  for  if  the  tidings  be  correct 
The  king  in  minutes  will  the  queen  embrace. 

Mari.  Then  Herod  lives  and  all  are  stories  forged? 

Alex.  And  Antony  confirmed  him  in  rule? 

Jos.  My  knowledge  goes  not  further  than,  he  comes; 
The  rest,  my  queen  and  princess,  he  will  tell. 

Alex.  A  great  surprise,  for  sure,  a  great  surprise. — 

Mari.  The  idle  tongues  should  be  cut  off  who  thus 
Invent  good  people  to  confound.    A  change 
Like  this  not  every  mind  can  bear.    I  scarce 
Can  realize  that  all  was  not  a  dream. 

Jos.  Which  shall  make  room  for  sweet  reality. 
The  loving  consort  dearer  is  to  thee, 
Fair  queen,  than  to  the  rest  the  glorious  king, 
And  so  much  greater  thy  rejoicing  is 
Than  ours,  although  I  would  the  last  not  be 
Nor  least  to  welcome  such  a  gracious  lord. 

MarL  If  he  the  quality  of  consort  would 
By  royal  deeds  display  as  he  the  rate 
Of  friendship  doth  by  high  rewards  attest, 
I  would  be  queen  in  other  sense  than  name. 

Jos.  My  most  admired,  worshipp'd,  virtuous  queen, 
I  here  in'preseoce  of  her  princely  grace, 
Thy  fair  and  noble  mother,  must  maintain— 
Thou  dost  the  king,  my  lord's  affection  wrong. 
There  lives  no  man  beneath  this  country's  sky, 
No  man  as  far  as  Rome's  vast  empire  doth 
Extend,  who  so  adores  and  loves  his  wife 


60  HEROD. 

As  Herod  doth  his  beauteous  queen.    Ay,  what! 
His  quality  of  husband  not  display? 
He  is  a  lover  still,  the  husband  s  calm 
Being  enkindled  by  the  lovei's  rage. 
There  is  a  mania  in  our  monarch's  love 
Which  is  in  tenser  than  his  fear  of  death. 
None  better  knows  it  than  myself.     I  have 
Such  strong  and  irrefutable  proofs  that  he 
The  queen  more  than  his  life  does  love  that  I 
Must  wonder  at  tiiy  unaccountable  doubts. 
I  knew  what  love  is  when  I  Herod  knew. 

Alex.  Why  not,  good  Joseph,  undeceive  the  queen 
Who  failed  hitherto  to  sound  his  love 
Which,  loud  in  words,  was  beggarly  in  deed  ? 

Mart.  Thou  art  my  friend,  my  husband's  confidant; 
If  aught  thou  knowest  would  the  difficulties 
Remove  betwixt  the  king  and  me,  then  speak, 
Since  reticence,  though  prudent  otherwise, 
In  such  a  case  resembles  much  a  wrong. 

Jos.  A  base  Delilah  did  a  Samson  wreck, 
What  weighs  a  Joseph  in  Mariamne's  hand? 

Mari.  [smilingly]  I  hit  it  now!    A  secret  is  it  not? 
A  secret  in  thy  breast  should  me  convince, 
That  I  am  terribly  beloved,  adored! 
Fy!  Joseph,  with  those  second  hand  confessions! 
Man,  mock  a  wretched  woman  not!    To  such 
A  vulgar  love  I  noble  hate  prefer. 

Jos.  My  queen! — 

Mari.  Fy,  fy!    To  whisper  secrets  on 

A  wife,  a  queen,  and  keep  her  ignorant 
About  herself — if  that  be  love,  Joseph, 
Then  neither  thou  dost  love  know,  friend,  nor  he. 

Jos   No,  madam,  that  is  love,  divinest  love 
Which  Herod  bears  his  queen;  and  here  the  proof. — 
Though  this  divulgement  blast  me  I  will  speak 
To  vindicate  my  lord  the  loving  king! — 
Know  that  before  the  king  took  leave  of  you 
And  Laodicea  made  his  journey's  goal, 
He  did  to  me  his  inmost  grief  impart. 
In  broken  accents  he  did  groaning  speak, 
And,  sighing,  swore  that,  should  misfortune  him 
Betide,  he  scorned  death,  but  would  amid 
The  saints  of  Paradise  Mariamne  miss ; 
I  should  him  promise— well,  a  whim,  a  freak — 
I  should  him  promise  not  to  let  him  wait 
In  heavens  long  for  thee,  but 

Mari.  [impatient]           »           Finish,  man! 
But  out  my  throat  or  stab,  no? 

Jos.  Never  spoke 

He  such  a  phrase  as  this,  and  sure  he  meant 
It  better  than  it  sounds. — In  Paradise 
Without  thy  company  there  was  no  bliss, 
He  thought.     It  is  a  whim,  but  still  his  love! — 

Mari.  For  monsters  like  that  beast  in  human  frame 
Theije  is  a  pit  in  hell!     Sweet  Eden  would 
Turn  black  at  his  abominable  sight! 
Oh  Joseph,  silence !  speak  not  of  the  fiend 


HEROD.  61 

Whose  love  I  dread!    Oh  filthy  soul,  oh  snake 
In  manly  shape! — I  thank  thee  for  this  love 
On  which  my  bitter  hatred  feeds. 

Jos.  If  thou 

The  use  of  strong  reproach  wilt  not  forbear 
And  base  it  on  my  frank  discourse  I  have 
My  ruin  conjured;  for  treason  would  to  him 
Appear  what  I  well-meaning  to  defend 
Him  have  exposed.  \Trumpets  are  heard  without. 

Alex.  They  sound  the  king's  approach 

And  I  no  mission  have  him  to  receive.  [Exit  Alexandra. 

Mari.  Nor  I,  distempered  as  I  am  and  wroth.— 
Excuse  me,  Joseph,  I  am  sick  at  heart  — 
I  cannot  Mnile  now  that  my  sense  is  galled, 
And  in  my  heart  the  blood  fermenting  boils. 
Be  not  dejected,  friend,  Mariamne  knows 

The  goblin  who  that  fien  ish  order  gave.      [Trumpc  tit  are  heard. 
'Tis  he  saluted  by  the  guards.    Oh  God, 
Now  fortify  my  soul  to  front  the  beast 
When  he  arrives  at  his  accursed  lair 
To  glut  his  bestial  lust  on  me !    Ah,  sires, 
Immortal  figures,  who  with  Israel's  staff 
The  dear  inalienable  sacred  rights  of  man 
Imprinted  on  the  brow  of  time,  from  your 
Supernal  seat  of  bliss  the  Power  benign 
Invoke  to  teach  me  how  to  end  my  state 
Of  untold  wretchedness!  \ExitMartamne. 

Jos.  Fool,  fool,  fool!    Would 

I  had  a  score  of  cries  to  proclaim 
I  am  a  long-eared,  braying,  stupid  ass! 
To  sap  thus  studiously  my  own  support 
In  such  a  coxcomb  way  and  have  a  brain ! 

My  wife's  suggestion  following  I  fall.  f  Trumpets  are  heard. 

I  could  bite  off  my  tongue  so  do  I  hate 
The  looseness  of  that  boneless,  babbling  piece! 

Enter  HEROD,  PHEKORAS,  PHABATCS,  DIOPHANTUS,  SABION,  COR- 
INTHUS,  SARAMEI/LAS,  and  a  train  of  armed  guards. 

Her.  [surrounded  by  his  court.]  My  prince,  grandees,  my  lord* 

and  loyal  friends, 

Returning  with  due  honors  from  the  man 
Whom  continents  obey,  and  having  all 
Our  foes  by  friendliness  or  force  subdued, 
We  now  may  turn  an  eye  to  peaceful  arts, 
To  works  of  beauty  and  of  noble  taste. 
In  fair  proportions  with  embellishments 
Of  rarest  kind  our  Sanctuary  nears 
The  crowning  touch,  and  round  it  soon  a  vast, 
Impregnable  citadel  encompassing 
Shall  rise,  enclosing  habitations  large 
And  solid,  wearing  Roman  ensigns  on 
The  front  and  Antony's  immortal  name, 
To  whom  we  purpose  other  monuments 
To  set  in  token  of  our  love  to  him. 
To  honor  Caesar  we  Olympian  games 
From  Grecian  soil  import,  and  for  this  end 
Erect  a  vast,  commodious  edifice 


62  HEROD. 

With  all  belongings  of  a  racing  space. 

Our  plan  is  made  to  see  new  cities  rise, 

And  various  structures  shall  this  land  adorn 

In  memory  of  those  to  us  endeared. 

All  this  will  stimulate  our  people's  mind, 

And  those  in  league  with  us  may  see  how  we 

Fidelity  and  friendship  on  the  brow 

Of  rocks  engrave.     My  land  I  find  in  peace, 

For  which  I  thank  you,  prince,  grandees,  my  lords. — 

[Exeunt  all  save  Herod  and  Joseph. 
I  miss  Mariamne's  welcome,  Joseph. — flow 
Conceive  the  absence  of  the  queen?    She  was 
In  time  of  my  return  apprised? 

Jos.  She  was 

My  lord,  and  waited  in  this  hall  until 
A  while  before  thy  coming  was  a  third 
Time  by  the  trumpet  signaled,  when  of  some 
Unpleasant  feeling  overcome,  she  left, 
Assuring  me  she  ought  to  be  excused; 
She  was  not  well,  not  in  the  frame  of  mind 
To  cheerfully  receive  my  lord,  the  king. 

Her.  What  may  account  for  such  a  sudden  change? 

Jos.  The  queen  was  in  her  humor  ruffled  when 
This  morn  I  came  with  news  of  thy  return. 
The  princess,  Alexandra,  was  with  her 
And  went  the  moment  I  the  news  conveyed. 

Her.  They  were  consulting  and  by  thee  disturbed? 

Jos.  Methought  they  were,  my  lord,  but  what,  my  skill 
Could  draw  no  inference.    I  caught  no  word, 
No  syllable  to  serve  me  as  a  key 
To  what  their  consultation  might  have  been. 

Her.  There  is  a  knot  which  I  shall  cut  at  once!       [Exit  Herod. 

Jos.  The  cut  may  reach  my  throat.    I  am  undone ! 
I  dug  my  grave  encouraged  by  mine  wife; 
I  must  to  her;  although  the  gates  of  hope 
Are  closing  over  me,  she  may  yet  see 
A  way. — The  tongue,  the  tongue!  oh  snaky  thing!  [K.n't. 

SCENE    III. 

The  Queen's  bedchamber. 

Mart,  [her  hands  folded]  Ye  sacred  ministers  of  love  and  grace 
Who  from  Sheol's  profoundest  deep  the  ghosts 
Of  purged  sinners  to  immortal  heights 
Uplift,  show  me  the  path  to  hope  from  this 
Unblessed,  fearful,  bloody  labyrinth 
Wherein  my  bleeding  soul  entangled  strives! 
That  hellish  agent  who  my  dearest  slew 
And  me  delivered  to  a  courtier's  knife, 
That  murderous  fiend  my  husband  call  and  lord, 
Receive  him  in  the  arms  of  love,  my  bed, 
Myself  divide  with  him  and  smile— and  smile! 
Ha,  basilisk,  how  do  thy  likeness  in 
My  innocents'  complexion  I  abhor! 
Oh  patience,  softness  feminine,  the  tongue, 
The  tear,  the  tear,  the  tongue  is  all  we  have 
Our  blackest  outrages  on  demons  to 


1 1  K  K ( i  1 1  .  63 

Avenge!    My  grandsire  slain,  my  brother  slain, 

Myself  for  slaughter  marked,  abused,  and  I 

That  hell-hound's  grisly  volume  on  my  hips 

Support!    No,  sacred  ancestry,  I  feel" 

Your  unpolluted,  martial  blood  in  me 

Be  volt  against  submission  to  a  fate 

So  dire! — Herod,  I  am  prepared  to  meet 

Thee  now;  walk  in,  I  am  not  what  I  was!-  |  Kxti-r  lie  rod. 

Her.  I  hear  my  name,  but  not  a  loving  sound. 
Thy  wild  excitement,  queen,  betokens  evil. 
My  heart  is  still  the  same,  but  thine  is  not, 
And  thy  reception  tells  me  love  is  past.— 

Mart.  And  all  the  blessings  of  thy  house  are  pa-t: 
Nay,  never  blessings  did  on  it  alight, 
For  curse  and  blessing  never  did  unite. 

//<  / .   \trif  i  iii/  to  stipiwxx  h ix  r(i(/c \   Imperious,  proud,  uncon- 
querable queen, 

How  long  shall  I  a  beggar  worship  thee 
Who  thus  repels  me  like  the  vilest  slave  V 
In  awe  before  me  twenty  millions  bow, 
(Treat  Antony  embraces  me  as  friend, 
At  my  command  the  desert  turns  a  town. 
And  with  my  warlike  arm  I  won  a  state — 
Shall  I  forever  live  in  fear  of  such 
A  peevish,  uninstructed  scold?— Womau, 
If  I  guess  right,  the  message  of  my  death 
Would  be  more  welcome  than  my  presence  here. 
Deny  it  woman,  or  believe  I  shall 
Ungently  touch  thy  haughty,  huge  conceit! 
Deny  it,  or  by  this  my  sword  which,  from 
The  clutches  of  thy  kindred  wrung  this  throne, 
I  shall  a  dreadful  vengeance  take  on  thee! 
For  if  I  were  one-eyed  and  thou  the  eye, 
I,  to  allay  my  all-devouring  rage, 
Would  pluck  thee  from  my  socket's  cave  and  cast 
Thee  to  the  dogs ! 

Muri.  \palc  ii-ith  ici'dth]  Now  listen,  I  will  speak 
And  mirror  in  my  speech  thy  horrid  self  ! 
Thou  mayst  the  rabble  with  thy  threats  appall, 
Or  frighten  Bedouins  with  thy  gory  fame, 
Exit  I  am  callous  to  thy  savage  frowns; 
Can  well  resist  thy  foul,  unbridled  tongue, 
And  bare  my  breast  before  thy  dagger's  point! 
Aye,  speak  to  all  the  world,  inhuman  king, 
But  not  to  me  of  thy  heroic  feats. 
T  know  thy  story  written  with  the  blood 
Of  noblest  hearts  thy  greed  untimely  pierced ! 
Thou  owest  Home,  biit  not  thy  sword,  this  crown 
And  hast  no  friend  beyond  thy  sordid  stock! 
Uncounted  widows,  when  their  orphans  weep. 
Cry  Herod!  Herod!  in  their  infants'  ear. 
And  curse  the  hour  of  thy  unholy  birth ! 
Thy  menial  slaves  my  princely  brother  drowned: 
By  thine  behest  they  carried  out  tin1  crime: 
My  grandsire  raised  thee  witli  a  parent's  love: 
By  him  persuaded  I  became  thy  bride: 
By  him  prepared  thou  art  Judea's  king, 


64  HEROD. 

And  yet,  thy  craven  fears  to  calm,  his  blood, 
A  high  priest's  sacred  blood  did  flow ! — But  as 
If  tortured  with  a  blood-hound's  thirst  for  gore, 
Or  with  that  monster's  unconceivable  greed 
Who  on  his  young  his  beastly  hunger  gluts, 
Thy  wolfish  instinct  on  destruction  bent 
Now  eyes  in  me  an  undefended  prey ! — 
I  should  not  thee  survive,  unspeakable  fiend; 
Deny  it,  monster,  or  my  loathing  bear! 

Her.  [in  a  paroxysm  of  rage\  Ha,  traitor,  traitress ! — Night  and 

blackness,  ha ! 

The  hell  is  yawning! — Go,  thou  art  a  whore.  [Strikes  her. 

With  Joseph,  yea  with  Joseph! — Vengeance,  death!  [Exit. 

Mari.  Now  he  the  poison  bears. — He  struck  me,  well, 
That  hand  will  rot,  while  he  is  yet  alive. — 
He  can  my  bosom  pierce,  but  not  my  name 
Befoul.— With  Joseph !— Fiend,  thy  thoughts  are  like 
Thyself,  demoniac,  foul  and  black. — A  stone 
Is  off  my  breast;  I  told  him  all,  he  foams 
Like  raging  tiger  with  the  deathful  shaft 
In  him. — Vengeance,  death. — I  mock  them  all; 
I  with  my  babies  pray,  and  praying  fall.  [Exit  Mariamne* 

SCENE  rv. 

A  room  at  Joseph's. 
Enter  JOSEPH  and  SALOME. 

Sal.  My  fault  it  is  that  thou  hast  little  sense 
And  the  last  second  didst  select  to  say 
What  weeks  ago  thou  prudently  couldst  do 
And  give  her  time  to  ruminate  the  truth. 
Of  course,  I  should  as  well  be  mad  to  learn 
The  measure,  knowing  not  the  gentler  cause. 

Jos   I  found  no  means  to  pacify  her  mind 
Imbued  with  deep  distrust  against  the  king. 
She  never  ought  to  learn  the  purposed  act 
Which  any  woman's  gentleness  would  ruffle; 
For  who  can  justly  say  that  he  was  right? 

Sal    Ah,  Joseph  sides  with  her,  it  is  too  clear. 

Jos.  I  side  with  her  and  any  one  in  right. 
Thou  art  her  enemy,  she  taunting  oft 
Thy  lowly  birth,  and  shunning  intercourse 
With  thee  on  equal  terms. — That  is  not  right, 
But  justifies  not  wrong  by  her  endured. 

Sal.  She  is  my  bitter  foe  and  thou  art  sure 
Her  friend,  that  is  thou  art  my  bitter  foe. 
She  hates  thy  wife  and  thou  dost  take  her  part 
Who  will,  should  her  contentious  haughtiness 
A  quarrel  seek,  not  spare  thy  name  nor  life. — 
What  is  it  driving  thee  in  such  a  haste  ?  [  To  Eurycles  who  enters- 

Eury.  Madam,  dear  sir,  the  king  is  raging,  troth 
Upon  his  lips.    He  runs  from  room  to  root*., 
Swears,  cries:     "Coriuthus!— The  guard — traitor — death — 
Vengeance — with  Joseph — traitress," — and  so  forth. — 
His  mood  affrights  me,  madam;  madness  stares 
In  his  revengeful  eye. — I  dread  his  rage. 


HEROD.  65 

Jos.  I  must  be  gone ;  the  lightning  darts  on  me. — 
He  said,  "  With  Joseph?"  was  it  so? 

Eury.  Quite  so. 

"  With  Joseph — traitress,"  I  distinctly  heard. 

Jos.  I  dare,  in  his  delirium,  not  confront 
The  king. — I  apprehend  he  knows  it  all. — 
I  must  withdraw  until  his  wrath  subsides.  [Exit. 

Sal.  Unmanly  coward,  thus  to  run  away ! — 
Our  fortune  smiles;  now  be  a  man. — She  is 

Adultress,  hearest  thou? — This  will  seal  their  fate.  [Enter  Herod. 
There  is  the  kiug,  Medusa  in  his  look. — 

Her.  Ha,  monkey,  vile  baboon,  licentious  ape! 
To  hell  with  him ! — Where  is  thy  bed's  companion, 
Thy  Joseph,  wench,  where  is  thy  man? — 

Sal.  Protect 

Me  Heaven ! — Thou  art  as  white  as  death ! — He  is 
Away. — 

Her.    Away ! 

Sal  He  ran  away. — 

Her.  He  ran 

Away !    This  earth  no  cavern  hath  to  hide 
The  lecherous  ape  I  hunt. — Salome,  ha ! 
Thy  husband — treason — with  my  wife,  the  queen; 
His  fear  to  face  me  doth  confirm  his  guilt ! 
Sal.  I  warned  thee  in  time; — no  news  for  me. 
Her.  Eternal  agony! — No  news  for  thee? 
Sal.  Ay,  brother,  let  that  man  there  speak. — 
Her.  That  man! 

Sul.  That  man,  thy  faithful  servant,  Eurycles, 
Hath  brought  to  light  what  my  suspicion  wove. 

Her.  Hath  brought  to  light!     All  doubt  is  gone!— To  light!— 
Speak  fellow! — Ah,  it  is  the  Greek  I  gave 
Thee. — Speak,  my  dreadful  witness! — No,  speak  not! — 
The  guard,  Corin thus!— Bring  the  traitor  here!— 
They  do  not  come! — 

Sal.  They  hear  thee  not.— Oh  dear, 

Support  it  like  a  man  and  cast  that  wife 
Away! 

Her.  And  cast  that  wife  away !    Am  I 
Awake,  asleep  ?    Is  this  a  vision  I 
Am  passing  through? — This  is  myself,  and  this 
Salome,  and  there  the  Greek,  the  witness. — Ha! 
Speak  witness,  give  me  certainty  I  hear! — 
If  I  am  dreaming,  then  I  dream  in  hell! 

Eury.  My  dreadful  lord,  would  Cheop's  pyramid 
Had  been  on  me  before  I  witnessed  what 
I  now  must  test. — I  think  it  was  not  all 
His  crime;  the  guilty  intimacy  wae 
By  tempting  hints  and  demonstrations  on 
The  queen's  part  brought  about. 

Her.  Keep  cool,  keep  cool, 

Poor  Herod,  cool. — Thou  sayst  the  queen  has  done 
The  whole  by  hints  and  demonstrations,  what 
Of  her  advances  didst  thou  note  of  late  ? 
If  more  be  known  to  thee  let  all  me  know. 

Eury.  Some  time  ago  the  princess  with  a  charge, 
A  private  errand,  sent  me  to  her  lord 


66  HEROD. 

Attending  on  the  queen.    As  I  on  toes 

The  known  apartments  did  approach,  my  ears 

Absorbed  the  sound  of  kissing  lips  and  speech 

So  soft  and  amorous  that  envy  stnick 

My  heart,  and  I  was  tempted  to  surprise' 

The  happy  turtle  sport,  myself  unseen. 

Amazement  seized  me  when,  on  drawing  nigh, 

I  through  a  half-shut  door  beheld  the  queen 

And  treasurer  in  sweet  delight  embraced, 

Against  a  divan  leaning,  she  burying 

Her  head  beneath  his  beard.     "  And  is  it  true," 

She  said  uprearing  gracefully  her  head, 

"  That  he  consign'd  me  to  a  murderous  death  ?" 

Whereto  the  lover  did  affirming  nod. 

I  then  the  queen  heard  clearly  say:    "He  must 

Not  live,  the  vile  plebeian  whom  my  soul 

Abhors!"— 

Her.          Enough,  these  are  her  words;  enough, 
I  have  no  wife,  had  never  one! — Oorinthus! 
Phabatus! — Why,  are  they  asleep? — Oh,  they  all 
Have  wives  and  friends,  I  am  the  only  wretch, 
A  solitary  wretch  enthroned  and  crowned. — 
Go,  summon  the  unsympathetic  slaves!      [To  Eurycles  wlto  goes. 
I'll  have  thy  traitor  piecemealed  inch  by  inch. 
First  he,  my  harlot  after  him.— She  falls, 
T,hough  with  her  sink  the  skies. — I  must  see  blood!    [ Exit  Herod. 

Sal.  The  loosened  rock  doth  from  the  cliff  descend 
With  unresisting,  all-uprooting  force, 
I  see  my  foes  beneath  its  fragments  bend 
And  buried  in  the  wreckage  of  its  course!  [Exit  Salome. 


School-room  in  the  Temple.    A  crowd  of  scholars  lowly  seated 
around  Matthias. 

1st  Scholar.  I  pondered  long  on  what  the  Scriptures  say: 
"  And  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
Thy  heart,  with  all  thy  soul,  with  all  thy  might." 
But  know  not,  master,  to  define  the  verse. 
Are  these  three  faculties  not  one  in  three? 

Matt.  Not  quite,  my  son. — They  all  are  Heaven's  gifts 
On  man  bestowed;  though  interwoven  they 
Are  three  in  function  and  in  end  diverse. 
In  one  the  feeling's  heavenly  germ  is  laid; 
The  other  is  the  throne  of  reason's  rule;  , 

The  third  in  action  shows  supreme  command. 
Thv  heart's  suggestions  follow  when  on  mild 
And  charitable  deeds  it  bends  thy  sense, 
But  leave  no  room  within  for  instincts  low 
Which  desecrate  that  holiest  of  seats. 
As  to  thy  soul,  it  heavenward  aspires, 
The  star-paved  quarry  whence  that  gem  is  cut; 
Unless  encumbered  with  the  lead  of  sin 
She  will,  like  fire,  seek  ethereal  space 
And  never  feel  the  thirst  for  wisdom  quench'd 
Until  invested  with  immortal  sight 
To  view  all  wonders,  freed  of  earthly  clay. 


HEROD.  67 

In  might  man's  greatness  and  his  danger  lies. 
By  it  he  holds  dominion  o'er  this  world, 
A  sceptred  monarch  of  all  nature's  realm; 
By  it  abused  he  is  this  nature's  curse. 
And  woe  to  man  when  might  is  centred  in 
A  tyrant's  unrestricted  hand  i  for  naught 
Is  holy  to  a  power  founded  on 
The  wrecks  of  human  liberty  divine! 

2d  Schol.  Allows  the  Law  no  vengeance  on  such  foes  ? 

Matt.  With  all  thy  might  is  written  in  the  Law, 
Which  signifies,  defend  thy  Sanctuary 
At  cost  of  life.    These  restless,  fleeting  days, 
When  sacrificed  in  struggling  for  our  God', 
Procures  a  sweet  eternity  of  bliss. 

3d  Schol.  Why  fight  we  not  against  tyrannic  rule  ? 
Why  purge  we  not  this  place  of  heathen  games  ? 

4th  Schol.  The  Roman  eagle  on  the  Temple's  door 
By  Herod  planted,  is  it  not  a  shape, 
An  image  branded  in  the  Decalogue? 

5th  SchoL  The  giant  statues  reared  to  pagan  chiefs 
Within  the  precincts  of  Jerusalem, 
From  Dan  to  far  Beer-Sheba,  heat  the  blood 
Of  myriads  ready  to  wipe  out  the  fell 
Abomination  from  our  sacred  midst !        [Enter  Judas  Saripheus. 

Matt.  The  hour  is  not  auspicious  now,  methinks, 
To  rouse  rebellion  in  this  chastised  land; 
But  when  it  comes  1  shall  my  pupils  lead 
To  martyr  death  or  brilliant  victory. 

Judas  Saripheus.  I  find  commotion  even  in  these  rooms, 
Sequestered  though  they  are  from  public  stir. 
But  all  creation  should  with  uproar  skake, 
And  cleanse  of  prodigies  her  sacred  face ! 

Matt,   [while  the  scholars  rise]   What  is  the  latest  of  untoward 
events  ? 

J.  Sari.  The  most  preposterous  of  all  yet  known. — 
The  queen  is  prisoner  by  the  king's  command. — 

Matt.  The  queen,  Mariamne  ? — 

J.  Sarip.  Mariamne  is  condemned 

To  die  the  death  of  infamy  and  shame ; 
And  Joseph  died  a  partner  of  her  guilt. — 

Matt.  Joseph,  the  king's  most  favorite  confidant  ? 

J.  Sarip .  Salome's  lord  and  Herod's  treasurer 
Beheaded  fell  accused  of  criminal  lust. 

Matt.  By  whom  accused,  and  testified  by  whom  ? 

J.  Sarip.  By  Herod,  Herod,  Herod;  these  are  three 
Who  in  their  methods  never  disagree. 

Matt.  Would  God  divested  him  of  rule  and  sense! 

J.  Sarip.  The  half  of  thy  petition  granted  is 
Already;  for  gossip  says  his  wits  are  gone. 

Matt.  \to  his  scholars]  Good  boys,  it  might  be  time  for  us  to  act, 
But  move  no  finger  till  we  meet  again. 
We  shall  meantime  our  thoughts  mature,  our  means 
Employ,  and,  shunning  rashness,  carry  out 
Our  plan      Of  Judas  Maccabaeus  read; 
His  life  will  ripen  you  for  glorious  deed ! 

[The  scholars  disperse  all  excited. 


68  HE  ROD. 

J.  Sarip.  Why  should  we  wait  when  urgency  invites? 
Impatient  for  a  leader  call  the  tribes 
And  every  eye  is  turned  on  thyself. 
Thou  art  the  high  priest  whose  appeal  will  fire 
The  masses  to  determined  dauntlessness. 
Let  us  resist  the  monstrous  tyranny 
Which  strives  to  paganize  our  holy  land ! 

Matt.  I  feel  not  warlike,  brother,  at  this  hour, 
A  softer  sentiment  possessing  now 
My  tender  properties. — The  queen,  I  fear, 
Dies  innocent,  a  guiltless  victim  of 
An  infamous  scheme.    While  as  a  minister 
Of  the  Most  High  for  sacred  freedom  I 
Am  bound  to  war,  the  gentler  duty  of 
Consoling  innocence  in  dark  distress 
Due  preference  claims,  and  I  must  see  the  queen. 

J.  Sarip   Well  thought;  compassion  first  and  then  revenge. 

Matt.  Yea,  1  must  see  her,  must  console  her;  come, 
Her  dreadful  husband  wiy  this  boon  her  grant. 

J.  Sarip.  And  I  will  to  her  mother  go  not  less 
Deserving  of  compassion's  soothing  speech, 
She,  though  not  stainless  in  her  dealings  here, 
Hath  borne  a  life's  long  sorrowful  career.  [Exeunt  both- 

SCENE  VI. 

ALEXANDRA  and  JEsop  in  one  of  her  rooms . 

Alex.  My  daughter,  too,  and  I  must  childless  sink 
With  unextinguish'd  vengeance  in  my  blood ! 
My  daughter,  too,  thus  shame-polluted  falls, 
And  Joseph  slain,  who  cannot  clear  her  name! 
Still  this  despair  and  now  the  worst  I  stood; 
The  skies  are  cruel,  2Esop,  yea  they  are ! 

jEsop.  The  times  are  rotten  but  the  skies  are  just, 
And  I  am  wicked  or  I  would  not  breathe 
To  such  a  crumbling  age  to  see  my  hopes 
All  buried,  ere  I  broken  die !    I  bore 
Them  in  these  arms,  the  drowned  high  priest  and 
The  gracious  queen.    Untamed,  ferocious  beast 
Would  cringe  in  playful  mood  around  the  babes, 
And  savage  Parthians  melted  at  their  sight, 
So  sweet  bloom'd  gentle  infancy  in  them. 
But  envious  fortune  is  a  jealous  slut 
Who  gives  us  most  that  we  may  lose  the  most! 
Now  all  my  prayers  centre  but  in  one — 
I  wish  to  go  now  that  my  joys  are  gone. 

Alex.  I  hate  this  life  and  love  this  earth  no  more, 
Yet  would  I  live  to  see  that  tyrant's  gore 
Who  will  my  daughter  slay,  who  slew  my  heir, 
Who  slew  my  father,  driving  to  despair 
A  gnashing  woman  who  finds  not  a  tear 
To  weep  her  woes  upon  this  doleful  sphere. 

[Enter  Judas  Saripheus* 
Come,  holy  man,  and  let  a  mourner  see 
What  faith  can  do  against  calamity.  [  Exit 

J.  Sarip.  Madam,  If  Job's  afflictions  would  thy  self 
Betide,  redoubled  joys  the  Lord  of  Hosts 


HEROD.  69 

Bestows  on  such  as  question  not  his  ways 
And  in  the  mortal's  weak  discernment  doubt. 

Alex.  My  source  of  joy  is  drying  in  the  ground 
And  shame  is  added  to  my  boundless  woes. 
The  cursed  hand  that  holds  Judea  chained 
And  Zion  makes  the  seat  of  heathen  gods, 
It  struck  my  son  in  prime  of  budding  youth, 
Polluting  now  my  daughter's  virtuous  name 
Without  a  knight  her  innocence  to  plead! 
What  owe  these  tribes  not  to  my  ancestors 
Whose  guiltless  progeny  defenseless  falls 
Exterminated  by  a  tyrant's  hand; 
Alas,  no  steel,  no  voice  resounding  in 
Their  dear  defense !    When  was  a  being  slain 
Without  protest ! 

J.  Sarip.  Protest !  dear  princess,  all 

Our  tribes  protest  against  the  yoke  they  bear 
Which  naught  but  action  can  revolting  break. 

Alex.  The  actors  tarry  and  the  yoke  is  hard. 
No,  no !    The  heroes  of  Judea  live'd; 
This  craven  age  will  vegetating  sink 
Who  have  the  tongue  but  not  the  nerve  to  deal 
With  manly  courage,  death-provoking  front. 
Hath  Herod  hosts  Antiochus  had  not, 
Whose  armed  legions  not  their  manhood  chilled 
Who  strove  resolved  for  sacred  rights  to  bleed  ? 

J.  Sarip.  We  are  not  mettled  like  those  matchless  men 
Whose  glorious  feats  our  people's  story  grace, 
Yet  do  we  know  what  can  be  done  or  not. —  , 

It  is  not  Herod,  princess,  whom  we  fear, 
But  him  to  combat  means  to  combat  Home 
And  those  dread  armies  of  resistless  dash 
To  whom  the  world  reluctantly  submits. 
What  wouldst  thou  have,  suppose  we  followed  thee  ? 

Alex.  I  would  the  tyrant's  power  overthrow, 
By  stabbing  him  who  broke  so  many  hearts. 

J.  Sari.  And  let  Pheroras  or  a  heathen  rule? 

Alex.  A  heathen  rather  than  a  half  breed  Jew 
Who  is  no  heathen,  but  a  heathen's  slave! 
What  could  be  worse  than  Herod  wielding  power! 
Nay,  anv  change  would  for  the  better  tend, 
Since  none  so  low  but  would  some  feeling  have, 
Some  awe  for  age,  some  reverence  for  the  wise, 
Some  love  for  truth,  regard  for  royal  blood, 
For  guiltless  life  so  monstrously  destroyed. 

J.  Sarip.  A  change  is  nigh  if 'Heaven  speeds  our  work. 
We  are  not  idle  in  our  holy  cause, 
But  would  not  rashly  act  without  design, 
Without  a  prospect  of  a  fair  success. 
A  valiant  band  in  readiness  awaits 
The  signal  of  the  leaders  they  revere 
To  strike  the  blow  with  overwhelming  force, 
And  spread  revolt  throughout  this  scourged  land. 
The  queen's  arrest  unsettled  our  resolve, 
For  in  our  sadness  drowned  is  all  revenge. 

Alex.  Vain  is  your  sympathy,  my  daughter  falls, 
Unless  her  resciie  you  in  time  effect 


70  HEROD. 

Before  that  orb  athwart  the  azure  rolls, 
Or  she  will  rise  to  the  divine  Elect. 
I  have  no  hope,  my  heart  tells  me  she  dies, 
But  meet  we  will  and  weep  in  yonder  skies. 

[She  leaves  followed  by  Judas  Saripheus. 


ACT    V. 

SCENE   I. 

A  room  in  the  palace. 
Enter  HEROD  and  PHEROBAS  . 

Herod.  What  said  the  traitor?    He  denied  his  lust? 

Oh,  had  the  demon  but  a  score  of  necks i 

I  should  at  leisure  crack  them  one  by  one ! 

Pher.  He  said  he  died  unguilty  of  the  crime. 
His  wife  did  lie;  the  queen  was  innocent 
And  thou  was  maddened  by  mean  jealousy. 
Thou  wouldst  thy  madness  rue,  but  rue  too  late. 

Her.  A  traitor  and  a  liar  was  the  fiend! 
His  lechery  is  proved  beyond  dispute. 
Two  witnesses  have  testified  his  guilt, 
The  Greek  of  Sparta  being  one  of  them. 
This  man  no  grudge  against  the  queen  can  have, 
Supposing  that  our  sister  liked  her  not. 
Oh,  dear  Pheroras,  why  desert  me  thus, 
And  love  a  man  who  was  a  slave  to  me! 

Pher.  His  blood  is  on  his  head ;  thy  hands  are  pure. 

Her.  And  she  shall  follow  him  who  shared  her  bed ; 
No  pity  shall  unfix  my  vengeful  mind !  [Enter  Phabatus. 

"Who  would  see  me  ?    Who  wishes  to  be  seen  ? 
Admit  no  man;  I  rather  met  an  ape. 

Phab.  My  lord,  the  High  Priest,  Matthias,  praying  waits 
That  he  with  thy  consent  may  see  the  queen. — 

Her.  The  strumpet — what  with  her?    Still  sympathy 
With  her,  though  outcast,  not  with  me,  the  king! 
The  herb  that  makes  beloved  where  is  it  found? 
Like  Hermon's  dew  man's  love  is  Heaven's  gift, 
For  crowns  and  sceptres  can  the  heart  not  force. — 
Mariamne,  oh  Mariamne,  fallen,  fallen, 
An  angel  fallen  from  a  glorious  height; 
If  there  be  seraphim  they  weep  thy  fall. — 
My  queen! — A  harlot  she — my  wife  a  wretch, 
Condemned,  imprisoned — perdition  on 
My  head  if  I  forgive  her  crime ! — Go  tell 
The  priest  that  mercy's  gates  are  closed,  and  hell 
Is  yearning  to  devour  the  lusty  drab !  f Exit  Phabatus, 

Pher.  Oh  brother,  king,  thy  health,  thy  rest,  thy  peace 
Are  gone;  thou  art  not  more  the  same,  the  man 
Of  stern  resolves,  indomitable  will 
Can  such  a  woman  such  a  hero  break ! 
She  has  no  love  for  thee  nor  feeling  for 
Thy  dearest  friends.    This  land  is  rich  in  maids 


HEROD.  71 

Of  rarest  qualities  and  grace.    Nor  lives 

A  sovereign  on  this  planet's  round  who  would 

Not  willingly  his  daughter  make  thy  wife. 

Her.  Ah,  lad!  thy  maids!— Speak  not  of  maids  ;  the  sun's 
Eternal  radiance  beams  not  on  a  face, 
A  figure  and  an  eye  like  hers     Leave  me, 
Pheroras,  I  must  be  alone — in  gloom, 
In  darkness,  drear,  despondency  alone. 
Mariamne's  doom  no  power  can  revoke. 

She  dies— leave  me  alone. — Mariamne  dies.  {Exit  Pheroras. 

Send  Diophantus  here — Mariamne  dies. — 
She  falls,  though  with  her  Herod's  fortune  sinks  !— 
Last  night  I  had  a  dream  in  which  I  saw 
Her  in  supernal  glory  wrapt,  the  priests, 
Her  brother  and  Hyrcauus,  by  her  side, 
All  radiating  with  effulgence  pure. 
I  from  a  distance  deep  and  drear  did  eye 
Their  lofty  flight  athwart  the  empyrean 
Ablaze  with  glowing  stars.    Discerning  me 
Afar,  methought,  they  frowned,  when  under  me 
The  ground  did  open  vast  and  horrid,  and, 
Amid  demoniac  yells  and  grisly  shapes, 
Who  struck  their  talons  in  my  writhing  flesh, 
I  sinking  deep  and  deeper  fell  with  sense 
Of  guilt  which  agonized  my  thrilling  soul. — * 
It  was  a  dreadful  phantom  fancy  wove 
Out  of  the  fever  raging  in  my  brains. — 
They  say  there  is  somewhere  an  Eden  for 
The  virtuous  soul,  and  for  the  reprobates 
There  is  a  judgment  and  a  racking  hell. 
If  there  be  tortures  in  eternity 
They  equal  not  the  agonies  I  bear 
Alive  !^Fopls,  dupes!— torture  what  is  mud  and  wind! 
Of  mire,  wind  and  water  made,  we  live 
On  what  they  yield  combined  until  the  flesh 
Outworn  dissolves,  and  here  the  story  ends. — 
Her  loathing  lowered  me  in  my  esteem 
So  that,  while  she  degraded  in  the  jail 
Is  locked,  I  in  my  visions  see  her  in 
The  fields  of  bliss,  so  mighty  dominates 
Her  magic  in  my  heated  nerves. — ''  Deny 
It,  monster,  or  my  loathing  bear!"    Ay,  drab, 
Thy  loathing's  arrows  Herod  can  sustain, 
But  not  a  second  time  thou  Herod  ehalt  disdain.— 
Thou,  Diophantus,  shalt  my  order  bear;  [Enter  Diophantii*. 

The  captain  of  the  jail  will  do  the  rest. 

Dio.  I  humbly  serve  thy  pleasure,  king;  command. 

Her.  See  that  before  the  sun  completes  his  course 
The  queen  be  headless  and  inhumed  straightway. 

Dio   My  king — 

Her.  [sardonic]  My  king— my  dog— compassion,  what? 

Dio.  I  am  thy  slave,  but  this  tremendous  act!- 

Her.  Tremendous  fool !    I  charge  thee,  if  thy  life 
Hath  value — do  what  I  command ! — Woe,  woe 
Mariamne— night,  abysm,  horrid,  O,  O!  [Exit  Herod. 

Dio.  Deplorable  king,  he  knows  not  what  he  doth, 
And  reason's  light  appears  in  him  eclipsed. 


72  H  E  K  O  D  . 

Yet  disobey  I  dare  not  his  behest; 

Of  all  he  slew  the  queen  is  sure  the  best. 

Unearthly  vengeance  hovers  over  him; 

The  skies  revolt  and  Herod's  end  is  dim!  \Exit  Diophantm. 

SCENE  II. 

MABIAMNB  and  MATTHIAS,  in  jail. 

Matt.  So  died  he  innocent  of  every  guilt 
With  thee,  my  princess,  who  art  thus  accused? 

Marl.  So  may  Almighty  all  my  sins  forgive 
As  he  was  guiltless  of  the  odious  crime 
For  which  he  bloody  execution  bore. 
His  was  a  loyal  and  devoted  soul, 
And  I  am  grieved  at  his  untimely  death; 
And  thou,  dear  sir,  his  memory  wilt  clear 
Of  shameful  imputations  put  on  him. 

Matt.  And  thine  illustrious  self  untainted  stands 
By  this  assertion  made  before  thy  end. 

Mari.  Before  the  threshold  of  eternity 
I  stand  prepared  the  verdict  of  that  Judge 
To  hear,  who  reads  the  naissant  secrets  of 
Man's  inmost  breast,  and  in  this  solemn  hour 
I  pledge  my  soul's  eternal  bliss  that  naught 
But  truth  I  told  thee,  sir,  in  all  regards. 
Calumniated  Joseph  lost  his  life 
And  spotless  name,  and  I  depart  this  world 
A  victim  of  imbruted  tyranny 

Matt.  Among  the  martyrs  of  our  sainted  sires 
Thou  wilt,  dear  daughter,  ever  live  and  shine. 
All-seeing  Heaven  will  thy  wrongs  avenge. 
He,  though  long-suffering,  the  wicked  smites 
With  all  the  terrors  of  His  burning  wrath! 

Mari.  May  He  the  father's  crime  not  visit  on 
My  children,  whose  career  opes  darker  than 
My  end!    My  babes!  auspicious  Power  guard 
My  babes  by  cutting  short  their  years,  since  naught 
Save  gloom  and  woes  the  future  breeds  for  them! 

Matt   Thy  gloom  expires  and  thy  day  begins, 
And  they  who  live  the  Lord  will  not  forsake. — 
Daughter,  enlarge  thy  sentiments,  thy  mind's 
Celestial  qualities  distend,  and  part 
In  peace  with  pardon  for  thy  blinded  foes; 
For  such  a  triumph  over  passion  won 
Endues  the  spirit  with  upsoaring  speed 
When  rid  of  clay  it  scales  the  azure's  deep 
To  join  the  Source  of  which  it  is  a  ray. 
How  long  soever  man  may  here  sojourn, 
He  thither  must  return  whence  he  does  come, 
For  here  to  stay  not  sent  is  the  earth-born 
Who  vainly  seeks  below  a  blissful  home. 

[Captain  and  guards  appear  in  the  background.  \ 

Mari.  [inspired  \   A  high  priest's  daughter  am  I  and,  resigned, 
I  banish  wrath  and  vengeance  from  the  mind. 
Forgiving  all  my  foes  I  will  depart 
Propitiation  mild  within  my  heart. 
[Ecstatically]  I  see  my  sires  in  divine  array 


HEROD.  73 

Amid  the  chorists  of  the  starlit  heights, 
Their  sacred  radiance  to  my  gaze  display; 
Their  eyes  outsparkle  the  cerulean  lights. 
They  beckon  me  to  leave  the  earth  in  haste, 
To  wing  with  them  through  empyrean  space; 
I  come,  I  come  to  share  your  blissful  race 
Ah,  of  your  blessedness  I  long  to  taste. 
I  hear  the  symphonies  which  move  the  skies 
So  sweet  and  soft  that  cherubim  do  weep, 
The  spheres  resounding  their  dominion  keep, 
The  saintly  hosts  respond  the  melodies. 
Ah,  let  me  flee  this  dark  terrestial  vale 
Where  sorrows  teem  and  joys  are  half  and  rare, 
Where  budding  blossoms  rifling  nips  the  gale, 
And  sweetest  hopes  end  in  untold  despair! — 

Enter  DIOPHANTUS  and  maids  who  bring  tivo  babes. 
These  are  my  babes,  my  earthly  hopes  were  these, 
The  Lord  his  blessings  may  on  them  bestow; 
With  my  departure  may  their  sorrows  cease,  - 

Adieu,  my  friends,  my  soul  is  freed  from  woe. 
Adieu,  my  babes,  take  this  your  mother's  kiss;        [Kissing  them. 
We  meet,  my  babes,  and  weep  in  realms  of  bliss. 
[She  kisses  the  children  again  and  again,  then  proceeds  to  the 

door  where  the  captain  and  guards  are  waiting  all  the  thin'. 

She  is  accompanied  by  Matthias,  Diophantus,  and  the  maids, 

two  of  whom  take  out  the  children  through  another  door. 

The  movements  are  solemn  and  mournful.    A  muffled  drum 

is  heard  behind  the  scene.] 

SCENE    III. 

The  main  portal  of  the  Temple  on  which  the  Roman  eagle  is  seen. 
A  crowd  of  scholars  ivith  hatchets  hidden  under  their  cloaks. 

Enter  JUDAS  SAKIPHEUS.    SABION  appears  watching  at  a  distance. 

J.  Sarip.  Be  patient,  children,  patient  till  he  comes, 
He  cannot  longer  tarry  who  should  lead; 
He  is  your  master,  act  not  rashly,  boys. 

1st  Schol.  We  wait  resolved  to  shatter  that  fell  bird 
Yon  perched  in  defiance  of  our  God. 
It  is  idoltary  we  foster  in 
Our  midst. — Perish  Herod,  death  or  victory! 

2d  Schol.  That  is  the  Roman  eagle  he  set  up 
To  pave  the  way  for  idols  to  come  next. 
Antiochns  he  likens  every  way. 

3d  Schol.  Tush,  lest  the  Temple's  guard  take  note  of  us 
And  in  the  germ  suppress  our  brave  resolve. 
A  throng  of  worshippers  the  precincts  crowd 
Who  should  the  deed  perceive  when  it  is  done 
Not  premature  betray  us  to  the  chief, 
Who"  will  come  ninning  with  his  warlike  pack. 

J.  Sarip.  The  guards  are  doubled  by  the  king's  command, 
Who  fears  an  uproar  since  the  queen  is  locked. — 
Now  there  he  nears  and,  somewhat  hasty,  too.     [Enter  Matthias. 
What  are  thy  news? — How  is  the  queen,  alive? 

Matt.  Mariamne  fell,  I  saw  her  severed  head. 
An  angel  fell,  our  manhood  is  disgraced. 


74  HEROD. 

Who  for  a  slavish  life  such  shame  endure. 
The  tyrant  slew  the  queen  and  we  are  mute, 
Obedient,  cringing,  weeping,  craven,  mean ! 
Such  days  I  will  not  see  a  second  time.  * 
My  sorrow  hath  no  bound.    Oh,  virtuous  queen, 
Oh,  worthy  daughter  of  a  glorious  race 
How  art  thou  fallen  noble,  great,  resigned 
To  Heaven's  decree,  forgiving  all,  all,  all ! 

J.  Sarip.  Not  him,  she  could  not,  should  not  him  forgive, 

Matt.  She  could  and  should  that  murderer  forgive, 
Who  lost  his  senses,  having  lost  his  hopes. 

J.  Sarip.  We  are  not  good  enough  to  hear  the  best. — 

Matt.  No,  no;  the  best  would  be  his  death — he  lives 
And  may  yet  all  of  us  survive. — But  you 
Are  armed,  children,  and  I  waste  your  time. 

J.  Sarip.  They  want  that  eagle  down  if  thou  sayst,  yes. 

Matt.  That  eagle? — Boys  are  you  prepared  to  die? 

Scholars.  We  are! 

Matt.  The  Holy  One  be  blessed, — I  die 

With  you.-*35ring  down  the  image  from  the  gate.  [They  prepare. 
Wait,  sons;  some  from  the  upper  window  must 
By  ropes  descend  till  they  the  idol  reach —  [Many  rush  in. 

Assist  us,  Heaven,  in  our  pious  work ! 
We  bore  it  long,  but  now  our  patience  ends. 
To  fall  for  Thee  is  what  Thy  Law  commands ! 
[Scholars  descend  by  ropes  from  an  upper  window,  reach  the  eagle- 
and  strike  it  down.    A  crowd  rushes  out  of  the  Temple.] 

1st  Schol.  [smites  the  fragments]   So  evil  thing,  that  perch  is 

not  for  thee! 

Ay,  trample  on  it,  let  the  tyrant  burst 
With  rage! — To  atoms  smash  it,  so,  so,  so! 

[The  scholars  smash  it  with  their  hatchets,  the  crowd  trample  on 
the  fractures ;  noise  and  laughter.] 

A  Voice.  The  guard,  the  guard!    Flee  friends,  flee! 

[The  crowd  disperse.    Judas,  Matthias  and  scholars  remain,. 
Enter  Captain  and  guard,  Sabion  draws  nearer. 

Capt.  Oh,  sacrilege. 

And  treason!    The  ensign  smashed,  the  instruments 
The  High  Priest's  pupils  hold  with  clinching  grasp ! — 
My  duty  bids  me  to  lay  hand  on  you 
At  once.    You  all  must  guarded  be  until 
The  king  has  judged  this  foul  revolt.    Even 
The  High  Priest  cannot  be  exempt. — Thou  art 
Not  of  these  rebels,  for  I  saw  thee  come, 
While  others  took  to  flight ;  who  was  the  head 
Of  this  outrageous,  daring  act?  [To  Sabion. 

Matt.  By  me 

Encouraged  they  this  idol  shattered,  which 
The  king,  despite  of  Israel's  sacred  Law, 
To  please  the  heathen  robbers,  there  did  plant. 
Lead  on,  I  follow  thee  and  shall  this  speech 
As  plainly  to  the  king  repeat  as  I 
Did  here,  and  let  him  judge  me  as  he  likes, 

Sab.  It  was  a  hasty  deed  I  do  regret, 
And  may  the  king  provoke  to  be  severe. 

Matt..  Thy  outward,  Sabion,  mirrors  not  thy  mind ; 
We  know  thee  better  than  thou  know'st  thyself. 


HEROD.  7,7 

J.  Sarip.  By  thine  devices  old  Hyrcanus  died. 

Capt.  Let  Sabion  go,  but  you  must  follow  me.       [Exit  Sabion. 
My  orders  are  not  lenient  in  this  case. — 
Convey  these  prisoners  to  the  citadel 
The  while  I  hasten  to  inform  the  king. 

[The  Captain  leaves,  while  the  guards  surround  the  prisoners, 

SCENE  IV. 

A  room  at  Herod's. 
Enter  HEROD. 

Herod.  He  died  unguilty  of  the  crime,  he  said.— 
His  wife  did  lie  and  I  was  maddened  by 
Mean  jealousy. — The  queen  was  innocent — 
Mean  jealousy! — Am  I  not  mad! — Ah,  if 
My  queen  unguilty  die — vmguilty  she 
And  I  her  murderer!— Ye  spinners  of 
The  mortal's  earthly  fate,  ye  powers  black 
Or  white,  ye  fearful  Destinies — if  she 
Be  innocent — her  blood,  Mariamne's  blood 
Flowing  guiltless — beheaded  my  love! — No! 
She  lives  yet,  sure  she  lives! — A  messenger! 
My  voice  affrights  me — slaves,  a  messenger! — 
Give  me  a  messenger  of  lightning's  speed!  [Enter  Sabion, 

The  heavens  are  gracious — man,  what  leads  thee  here 
When  crown  and  ungdom  for  thy  like  I  gave? 

Sab.  My  lord,  the  High  Priest  and  a  crowd  of  scholars 

Her.  Hold,  life  and  death  depend  upon  thy  haste, 
Thy  turn  of  tongue— run,  she  must  not  die! — 

Sab.  My  sovereign,  who  not  die  ? 

Her.  Devil,  the  queen, 

My  wife !    Dull-minded  rogue,  my  wife !    Stand  not, 
Thy  errand  will  the  headsman's  axe  arrest ! — 

Sab.  The  graces  be  with  her!—  [Exit 

Her.  [wildly \  Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha ! 

The  Fates  are  sullen  and  my  star  is  red ! 
If  it  be  done  then  Mercury  would  speed 
In  vain !— Thou,  what,  about  the  queen  ?  [Captain  enters. 

Capt.  A  crime  rebellious  in  its  kind  was  just 
Committed  at  the  Sanctuary's  front. 

Her.  The  stars  rebel,  why  should  my  subjects  bear 
The  yoke  of  tyranny  on  them  enforced! — 
What  is  the  deed  rebellious  in  thi»ie  eyes? 

Capt.  The  eagle  from  the  portal's  top  they  tore, 
Incited  by  Matthias  to  revolt, 
Who  deems  the  ensign  an  idolatrous, 
Abominable  image;  seeking  fame 
In  martyrdom  he  counts  his  punishment 
Would  certainly  involve. 

Her  It  is  a  scratch 

Disdainful  to  resent,  while  over  me 
Suspended  is  the  hand  of  vengeful  fates. — 
That  messenger's  report  I  dread— she  lives  ?  \En  ter  Sabion* 

Sab.  [with  downcast  look]  My  lord — 

Her.  She  lives?    Say,  yes! 

Sab.  [as  before]  My  king— 

Her.  [drawing  nearer,  the  hand  on  his  dagger]         She  lives? 


76  HEROD. 

Sab.  The  revocation  came  too  late. — 

Her.  [stabbing  Sabion]  Liar, 
She  Jives! — Open  hell  this  murderer  to  receive! 

Sab.  [while  Herod  rushes  out\  Oh,  vilest  monster  thou — I  feel 

my  death 

Is  near;  he  struck  my  heart. — Hyrcanus  now 
Thy  frowning  ghost  is  by  this  gore  appeased! — 
Vile  tyrant — help  me. Heaven— friend — my  wife — 
My  children — tell  them — oh,  I  sink. —  .      \He  dies. 

Capt.  The  king 

Is  mad  and  things  rush  to  a  turn.    I  hear 
Some  voices.— Sabion  slain,  of  late  abhorred 
By  many  and  by  others  feared. — Through  him, 
They  said,  Hyrcanus  was  betrayed,  and  he 
Betrayed  his  treason  ere  he  died. — Who  comes  ? 

Enter  PHEBOBAS,  EUBYCIJES,  PHABATUS  and  SALOME. 

Pher.  The  king  away  and  Sabion  in  his  blood, 
What  happened  here  thou  wast  a  witness  of  ? 

Capt.  I  stand  in  terror,  prince,  of  what  I  saw. 
This  man  fell  stabbed  by  our  dreadful  king, 
On  bringing  tidings  of  our  queeu's  demise. 

Pher.  And  whither  went  the  king  this  being  done? 

Capt.  In  t bat  direction  rushed  he  in  despair. 

Pher.  [to  Phabatus]  Be  near  the  king,  I  tremble  for  his  life. 

[Exit  Phabatus. 

And,  captain,  thou  thy  quarter  keep  in  peace 
And  re-enforce  thy  guards,  for  now  the  night 
Descends  and  all  is  restless  in  the  town. 
Remove  this  body  in  the  twilight's  dusk. — 
He  died  not  innocent,  this  guileful  rogue. 

[  The  captain  and  Eurycles  remove  the  body. 

Sal.  She  is  yet  ruling  from  her  grave  the  king. 
If  he  persist  how  may  this  mania  end  ? 

Pher.  His  blood  is  at  its  boiling  heat,  it  must 
Cool  down  or  he  demented  sink ;  meanwhile 
The  cares  of  state  my  rest  disturb.    From  end 
To  end  the  country  is  in  flames,  revolt 
And  disaffection  stirring  every  tribe; 
And  hydra-headed  is  the  plotters'  crowd. — 
A  strong  patrol  this  city  guards  to-night, 
While  to  the  palace  none  can  entrance  have, 
Save  friends  disarmed  and  our  servants  known. 
No  caution  seems  superfluous  in  such  state 
Of  things.  — And  thou,  Salome,  be  the  king's 
Propitious  nurse.    Forsake  not,  sister,  him 
In  overpowering  grief. — I  cannot  stay. 

Sal.  His  fits  of  madness  make  me  dread  his  sight; 
When  these  survene  he  knows  not  what  he  doth, 

|  Phabatus  re-enters. 
And  life  is  scarce  secure  within  his  reach. 

Pher.  How  does  the  monarch  ? 

Phab.  Weeps,  dear  prince ;  outstretched 

Upon  the  queen's  pavilioned  bed  he  groans 
And  unintelligibly  talking  vents 
His  pains.— "Mariamne,  answer — guiltless — love 
And  murder — "  are  his  uttered  words. — I  durst 
Not  budge,  but  quietly  withdrew. 


HEROD.  77 

Pher.  The  tears 

Of  poignant  sorrows  -will  his  heart  relieve. 
What  soothing  remedy  could  we  apply 
To  quell  the  fury  of  his  feverish  blood  ? 
A  wise  physician  could  his  nerves  sTibdue 
By  some  ingredients  known  to  magic  art. 

Phab.  I  know  a  man  who  nature's  secrets  steals, 
And  by  his  subtlety  incurable 
Distempers  cured.    A  word  will  bring  him  straight. 

Pher.  Go  in  my  name  request  the  skilful  man 
To  use  his  art  in  quieting  the  king. —  [Phabalus  leaves. 

Thou  with  the  Greek  be  present  when  he  comes 
Am  go  not  hence  until  I  take  thy  place. — 
I  charge  the  guards  thy  orders  to  obey.  [Exit  Pheroras* 

Sal.  Believe  or  not  believe  a  monitor 
There  is  in  us,  whose  warning  voice  the  soul 
Affrights  not  less  than  fulminating  claps 
Descending  fire-laden  from  the  skies! — 
The  shrew  is  dead,  why  shudder  at  her  name 
Who  from  the  bowels  of  earth  can  never  rise 
To  prove  the  guile  of  my  successful  scheme? 
And  where  I  am,  awake,  asleep,  by  day, 
By  night,  I  see  my  husband's  bloodless  face 
Distorted,  ghastly,  pitiful,  terrific! 
Of  Pluto's  hellish  brood  the  blackest  in 
Her  fiendish  ways  is  Vengeance,  restless,  dark, 
Destructive,  bloody,  horrid,  hateful,  foul!— 
The  Greek  did  with  his  lies  disgust  me,  though 
By  me  instructed  he  did  meanly  lie, 
And  my  achievement  is  to  be  the  whore 
Of  such  a  scurvy  liar  as  he  is. — 
Oh  Vice,  I  see  thy  varnish'd  ugliness, 
But  all  the  pathways  to  remorse  are  blocked. 
What  crime  is  crime  remains;  the  dead  are  dead 
Who  through  me  died,  but  guilt  weighs  down  my  head. 
There  is  no  pardon  for  a  wretch  like  me, 
No  brand  too  gross  for  my  ignominy.  [Exit. 

SCENE  V. 

Herod's  Bedchamber. 

He  is  seen  in  a  trance  on  his  bed;  around  him  stand  a  physician 
PHABATUS,  DIOPHANTUS,  SALOME  and  EUBYCLES. 

Physician,  [holding  a  case  full  of  pills  and  vials  in  hand] 

This  casus  puzzles  my  prodigious  brains, 
Imbued  with  wiwdom  of  the  sacred  pages 
Of  what  Asclepius  taught  and  Egypt's  sages 
In  sounding  man's  diseases  and  his  pains, 
How  they  spring  up,  evolve  and  force  the  breath 
Out  of  the  mortal's  frame,  which  fools  call  death; 
For  in  great  nature's  workings  nothing  dies, 
And  earth  is  ever  young,  as  are  the  skies. — 
With  Hippocratic  skill  I  thousands  cured 
Phlegmatic  humors  withered  for  the  grave, 
And  if  three-fourth  untimely  death  endured, 
It  was  by  accident  through  drugs  I  gave; 


/78  ;H  E  RO  I) . 

The  physicus  his  art  must  boldly  try 

On  morbid  systems,  though  the  patients  die  — 

This  case  encloses  herbs  from  every  clime, 

Of  magic  power  nature  to  revive, 

They,  joined  to  the  cure  of  healing  time, 

Can  all  the  morbi  from  the  body  drive; 

But  here  is  one  which,  since  from  Eden  driven 

Mankind  is  sinning,  is  but  found  in  heaven. — 

Let  me  apply  it  to  the  sufferer's  head 

Whose  vital  current  now  a  fever  heats, 

Whose  pulse,  I  feel,  a  fearful  tempo  beats, 

And  even  if  he  lifeless  were  as  dead 

This  medicine  will  in  his  mind  create 

A  wondrous  stir  which  will,  at  any  rate, 

Mysterious  visions  bring  before  his  sight 

And  soothe  his  sorrows  with  the  parting  night. 

[He  applies  the  herb  to  Herod's  head. 

And  now,  dear  princess,  let  no  breathing  thing 

Disturb  the  rest  of  the  despondent  king. 

In  the  adjoining  room  you  quiet  keep, 

While  he  reposing  tastes  the  balm  of  sleep. 

[Exeunt  all.    The  lights  are  lowered;  a  strain  of  soft  music  is 

'    <       heard;  on  a  brilliant  chariot  Hyrcanus.  Mariamne,  and 

Aristobulus  with  harps  in  hand  and  dazzling  wings  glide  by 

in  the   air,    their  smiles   vanish   at  seeing    Herod.      They 

disappear;  the  music  ceases,  whereupon  thunder  and  light- 

'  ning  burst  from  the  ground,  followed  by  a  black  crew  of 

tailed  and  horned  goblins  yelling,  laughing,  and  gnashing 

their  teeth  at  Herod's  sight,  and  vanishing  in  the  dark.] 

Her.  \upstarting]  I  sink — I  fall — am  lost — gracious  powers, 
.  My  soul — the  goblins — dread  and  blackness! — Ha, 
Mariamne  an  angel — they  I  slew  with  her 
And  I  forever  wretched,  damned,  lost  !— 
No, phantom — I  was  dreaming;  no,  she  lives! 
My  queen  lives! — This  is  her  bed — my  bed — oh 
.^Felicity,  Mariainne's  bed! — Come  love, 
My  angel — Ha! — Mariamne!    Mariamne! — Slaves, 
My  queen,  where  is  my  queen? — Mariamne,  ho! 
Deserters,  all  asleep — I  want  my  queen!  [Eurycles  enters. 

Where  is  my  wife,  my  beauteous  queen  ?  I  want 
Her,  call  her! — Why  hesitate? — Obedience,  thug! 
Give  ear  for  Herod  speaks — am  I  the  king? 

Eury.  My  lord ! 

•Her.  Thou  wouldst  not  stir — where  is  my  queen  ? 

Eury.  Thou  knowest  where,  my  king. — She  will  not  come. 

Her.  Not  come  if  I  command,  beseech,  implore! 
Not  come  if  I  forgive  and  love  and  kiss, 
And  kneel  and  worship  her,  not  come! —  [Enter  Salome. 

Eury.  My  lord, 

'Her  ears  are  deaf,  she  will  not  hear  my  voice. 

Sal.  Oh  Lord 

[Pherorus,  Diophantus,  Phabatus,  and  Corinthus  Enter. 

Her.  Not  come ! — let  me  talk  to  him — deaf 

She  is,  he  said,  and  will  not  come, — she  must, 
She  will — she  is  not  dead,  my  wife  ? — 

Eury.  She  is! — 


HEROD. 

Her.  [stabs  Eurycles]  This  for  thy  evil-forging  tongue— she 
lives.!—  [All  are  startled. 

Move  not  or  lie  who  moves  will  move  the  last ! 

Eury.  The  furies  tear  thy  soul,  ferocious  brute!  [He  sinks. 

I  breathe  the  last;  the  freezing  chills  of  death 
Bush  through  my  veins,  my  sight  grows  dim — but  hear 
And  swaJlow  poison  worse  than  vipers  spit. — 
Thy  queen.,  fierce  monster,  died  without  a  stain ! 

Her.  Ha,  daggers  are  thy  words  yet  speak,  I  hear! 

Sal.  Infamous  liar  what  wilt  thou  forge  to  sting 
A  credulous  man  ? 

Eury.  Infamous  wretch,  thou  shalt 

This  time  the  truth  hear! — By  the  dreadful  gods 
Who  on  my  head  Mariamne's  innocence 
And  fair  Aristobulus'  blood  avenge, 
Herod,  I  shall  .the  truth  divulge,  or  may 
From  Pluto's  blackest  regions  never  rise 
My  soul! 

Her.     Divulge  and  let  the  furies  tear 
Me  now  that  I  my  seraph  murderously 
Slew.    Angelic  image — innocent  my  love — 
Defamed  and  struck  and  guiltless — O,  O,  O ! 
My  babies  of  their  heavenly  nurse  bereaved, 
My  sweetest,  godJiest,  gentlest  beauteous  queen 
Beheaded — fallen,  fallen— O,  my  heart! — 

\He  lays  his  hands  on  his  breast  in  a  state  of  extreme  agony. 

Eury.  She  died  an  honest  woman  loyal  to 
Thy  bed,  and  he.,  that  strumpet's  husband,  he 
The  best  was  of  thy  choicest  friends;  he  did 
Not  what,  to  please  thy  sister.  I  did  say. — 
She  Joseph  forced  thy  secret  to  divulge, 
And  with  her  virtue  paid  my  slanderous  task. — 

Sal.  Demoniac  liar !  [She  wants  to  run  away. 

Her.  Hold,  infernal,  or  this 

My  weapon  will  transpierce  thy  hateful  breast!  [To  Salome. 

"Woe,  woe! — My  dream,  my  fear,  my  queen,  my  lovef          [Weeps. 

Eury.  My  time  is  out. — Thy  wife  was  innocent, 
Her  foe  thy  sister;  I  her  instrument, 
Who  shared  Salome's  bed  while  Joseph  lived. 

[Eurycles  dies ;  Salome  hides  her  face;  Pheroras  turns  away. 

Her.  Chaos  and  darkness; — Men,  why  stand  ye  still? 
When  yonder  wretch  I  slew  you  stirred  all 
But  this  enormous  guilt  and  my  sweet  wife's, 
Your  queen's  destruction  kindles  not  your  bloodr 
Arouses  not  your  manhood  to  a  pitch 
Of  vengeance  on  a  fiendish,  horrid  ghoul  ! 
Ah,  all  the  sorrows  and  the  shame  is  mine, 
The  Lord  of  heavens  is  a  fearful  Judge! — 
Mariamne,  cherub,  yea,  thou  art  no  more, 
The  earth  did  swallow  thy  celestial  frame; 
Through  me  they  shed  thy  guiltless,  sweetest  gore,. 
Thou  art  in  Heaven,  mine  is  dole  and  shame. 
But  longer  whelming  woes  I  can't  sustain, 
They  must  in  madness,  self-destruction  end. 
For  never  bore  one  breast  such  loads  ef  pain- 
As  from  above  upon  my  head  descend. 
The  stars,  the  Fates  we  waging  war  with  mer 


80 


HEEOD. 


A  broken  mortal  how  shall  I  contend 

With  them  who  strike  and  wound  invisibly 

When  with  their  deathf ul  shafts  they  bosoms  rend. — 

But  if  they  think  that  Herod  hath  no  nerves 

To  breast  the  onslaught  of  malicious  fates, 

They  shall  now  find  that  Herod  never  swerves 

From  grimly  death  and  black  Abaddon's  gates! — 

Behold,  my  friends,  I  slew  so  dear  a  wife 

That  Heaven's  treasures  could  not  pay  her  worth; 

I  thirst  for  vengeance  not,  but  hate  this  life 

And  gracious  Heaven  gave  us — this  on  earth! 

[He  tries  to  stab  himself,  Pheroras  falls  in  his  arms.     While  the 

curtain  descends  a  voice  is  heard;  "He  lives,  a  prey  to  guilt- 

ful  shame!" 


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